Enjoy the outdoors during Free Fishing Weekend
State Rep. Tom Leonard today encouraged experienced and novice anglers alike to take advantage of Free Fishing Weekend on February 13 and 14.
Rep. Leonard, R-DeWitt, said Clinton County is home to 27 lakes and Gratiot County has 15 lakes, all holding the promise of game fish. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources waives all fishing license fees for residents and visitors during the weekend, although fishing regulations remain in place.
“Ice fishing is a time-honored winter tradition in Michigan and can be fun for the entire family,” Rep. Leonard said. “This is the perfect opportunity to take your children or grandchildren out on the ice and introduce them to a fun and exciting cold-weather sport while enjoying our state’s beautiful natural resources.”
Rep. Leonard said the DNR recommends carrying a pair of ice picks or ice claws when you venture onto frozen lakes. In addition, the DNR recommends:
· Do not take a car or truck on the ice at any time;
· Never venture out alone without telling a responsible adult on shore your plans;
· Test ice thickness with an ice spud before you settle on a spot;
· If fishing in a group, spread out to avoid stress on the ice; and
· Avoid areas of the ice showing large cracks or depressions.
Free Fishing Weekend takes place annually in February and June, a weekend during which the DNR promotes awareness of the state’s aquatic resources.
A full listing of organized Free Fishing Weekend activities are online at www.michigan.gov/freefishing.
Mark Your Calendar
Valentine Tea at Lowe UMC – Saturday, February 13 from 1:15 pm to 3:30 pm Reservations are not necessary.
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Bring Your Valentine to the Sons of the American Legion 20th Annual Spaghetti Dinner. – February 13 from 5:00pm To 7:30pm
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Leonard hosts February office hours in St. Johns at the Big Boy, 1408 S. U.S. 27, Friday, February 12 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. No appointment is necessary.
Local student earns distinction at Wichita State University
David C. Elzinga of St. Johns is one of more than 2,600 students who were on the WSU dean’s honor roll for fall 2015 at Wichita State University.
To be included on the dean’s honor roll, a student must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
WSU enrolls about 14,500 students and offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in six undergraduate colleges.
The Graduate School offers an extensive program including 42 master’s degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas; a specialist in education degree; and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics; chemistry; communication sciences and disorders; human factors and community/clinical psychology; educational administration; physical therapy; and aerospace, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering.
CASA Spaghetti Buffet
Wednesday, February 24th
5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Hosted by St. Johns Big Boy
Adult Ticket: $12
Children (10 and under): $8
Children (2 and under): Free
Kindergarten Registration
St. Johns Public Schools offers all day, everyday kindergarten. Children who will be 5 years old on or by September 1, 2016 are eligible to attend school in the fall.
Kindergarten Registration will be held in each of the elementary buildings this year. You are invited to bring your child with you to meet our staff and enjoy a tour.
Registration Dates and Times
Please call Mrs. Metzmaker at 989.227.4802 to schedule an appointment.
Gateway Elementary Tuesday, March 15, 2016 8:00 – 11:30
Eureka Elementary Tuesday, March 15, 2016 2:00 – 4:00
Oakview Elementary Wednesday, March 16, 2016 8:00 – 11:30
East Olive Elementary Wednesday, March 16, 2016 2:00 – 4:00
Riley Elementary Thursday, March 17, 2016 12:30 – 4:00
To attend St. Johns Public Schools, the State of Michigan requires the following information be on file before your child may start school:
– Child’s certified birth certificate . this will have the raised seal on it and we will make a copy of it after we verify we have seen the original
– Child’s up to date immunization records. Requirements for a child to enter school have changed, please check with
your doctor’s office or local health department for updates
– A vision test and hearing test within the last year. This year vision and hearing tests will be given at
Kindergarten Registration in your assigned school
– Proof of residency verification. See white residency form for options
If you are able to provide these forms the day you register at your school we will take them, if not, you will have until Kindergarten Orientation and meet the teacher night, which will be scheduled a week before school starts. This should give you time to gather all the information you need and to get immunizations up to date, if need be. All documentation is required before your child may start school.
The following forms will need to be filled out entirely to enable the District to get your child enrolled.
– Student Registration (front and back)
– Concussion Awareness and Residency Verification
– Permission Form
– Transportation Request Form if transportation is needed
Please fill out and return the above forms at Kindergarten Registration. You will receive a letter from your child’s teacher before school starts with more information about the school year.
This is always an exciting time for students and parents as they enter school. We will do everything we can to make sure this transition goes as smoothly as possible. Please visit our web page www.sjredwings.org to get school updates and information.
Like us on Facebook St. Johns Public Schools
Special Waste Collection Events
Mark your calendars and spread the word. The Clinton County Department of Waste Management is sponsoring several collection events. For more information or to learn about other disposal and recycling options that may be available, call 989-224-5186, send an email to recycle@clinton-county.org or visit online at www.clinton-county.org and look for the link to the Department of Waste Management.
Medication Disposal Programs
Protect your family, pets, the community and the environment by properly disposing of unwanted or expired medications through one of the programs noted below. Do not put medications “down the drain” or in the trash. They can end up in surface waters and negatively impact local ecosystems. The preferred disposal option is through special events which ensure safe disposal through incineration. Please keep your medications in their original containers but be sure to black out any personal information.
The Sparrow Clinton Memorial Pharmacy in St Johns (989) 224-8155 and Central Pharmacy in Laingsburg (517) 651-1777 can accept all non-controlled pills, tablets and liquids year round, free of charge. Please call them for additional information and hours. Controlled medications, such as narcotics and behavioral medications can be safely and securely dropped off at the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office lobby Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm. More drop off locations can be found online at www.capitalcountiescommit.org and www.takebackmeds.org.
Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Community Center of the St. Jude Parish at 801 N. Bridge Street in DeWitt. Be sure to black out personal information but leave the drug name visible! Please do NOT bring needles, Epi pens, inhalers, aerosols or patches – These items can only be handled at the annual Clean Community Events.
– Saturday, March 19, 2016 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Bath Township Senior Center at 14480 Webster Road in Bath. Be sure to black out personal information but leave the drug name visible! Please do NOT bring needles, Epi pens, inhalers, aerosols or patches – These items can only be handled at the annual Clean Community Events.
– Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Recycle Rama! Ingham County Health Department, 5303 South Cedar Street in Lansing. Be sure to black out personal information but leave the drug name visible! Please do NOT bring needles, Epi pens, inhalers, aerosols or patches – These items can only be handled at the annual Clean Community Event and Free For Fall.
– Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the spring Clean Community Event in St Johns. An appointment is required to attend this event – please register online http://www.clinton-county.org/Departments/DepartmentofWasteManagementHomePage/CleanCommunityEvents/CCERegistration.aspx.
Please be sure to black out personal information but leave the drug name visible! We can accept used needles, Epi pens, inhalers, aerosols and patches at this event.
Lansing Area Home and Garden Show
– March 17th-20th, 2016 at the Michigan State University Pavilion. This annual event gives residents an opportunity to ask questions about recycling, waste reduction and composting opportunities in the tri-county (Clinton, Eaton and Ingham) area. Clinton County Department of Waste Management will have information and representation at this booth. Enter to win cool prizes and pick up lots of information (and some freebies).
Clean Community Event
– Saturday, April 30, 2016 – An appointment is required to attend.
Clinton County residents are encouraged to take part in either event date – please make an appointment up to one week prior to the event http://www.clinton-county.org/Departments/DepartmentofWasteManagementHomePage/CleanCommunityEvents/CCERegistration.aspx or by calling the office (989) 224-5186.
Acceptable items include household hazardous waste, unwanted medications, farm and landscaping chemicals, motor oil & antifreeze, electronics, bulky waste, scrap metal, appliances, clothing, tires, yard waste, reusable household items, books and building materials. Most items are accepted free of charge but nominal fees do apply (cash or check only).
Mercury Health Thermometer Exchange
The DWM will accept old mercury health thermometers year round at our office located at 1307 E. Townsend Road, Suite 102 in St Johns (MMDHD Building). Residents are encouraged to transport their old mercury thermometers in a plastic ziplock baggie. The DWM will exchange your old mercury health thermometer for a new digital thermometer. Limit one digital thermometer per person.
Mercury Thermostat Collection
The DWM will accept old mercury containing thermostats year round at our office located at 1307 E. Townsend Road, Suite 102 in St Johns (MMDHD Building). Residents are encouraged to transport their old mercury thermostats in a plastic ziplock baggie.
MSU Specialist discusses field crops disease management – Webinar beginning February 22
Managing diseases in field crops is an important part of producing high yielding, good quality crops. Management practices may vary year to year based on growing conditions, disease pressure and available products.
In 2015 we saw high levels of head scab in areas of the state. When managing for head scab, it is important to select the right fungicide and make the application when you will get the greatest impact for both disease and vomitoxin suppression. Diseases are not a concern every year and in every crop. Common questions during the growing season include; should I use a seed treatment and what type of seed treatment should I use? Should I use a foliar fungicide for my corn?
For the answer to these and other disease management questions, join Dr. Marty Chilvers MSU Field Crop Pathologist for the MSUE field crop disease management webinar, February 29 at 7-8 pm EST pm where we will present data from trials and discuss these topics.
This webinar is part of the 2016 Field Crops Webinar Series, addressing key production points for the coming growing season in a condensed virtual format. The series will be held Monday evenings from February 22 through March 28, 2016. These live webinar programs will run from 7-8 p.m. EST and can be viewed independently online over a high-speed Internet connection.
Pre-registration is required for all participants at $15 for the full series of six webinars or $5 per individual webinar session. One MDARD Pesticide Recertification Credit will be available through each event for application to the Private Core, Commercial Core or Field Crops categories. The March 21 webinar is also approved for Category 4, seed treatment.
· Feb. 22, Overcoming Weed Management Challenges in 2016 – Christy Sprague, MSU
· Feb. 29, Field Crop Disease Management Update – Martin Chilvers, MSU
· March 7, Forage Improvement on a Budget – Kim Cassida, MSU
· March 14, Nutrient Management Research in Field Crops – Kurt Steinke, MSU
· March 21, Evaluating Insecticide Seed Treatments – Chris DiFonzo, MSU
· March 28, Cover Crop Termination Strategies – Mike Plumer, Conservation Ag Consultant
MSU Extension’s 2016 Field Crops Webinar Series represents a unique opportunity to access the expertise of MSU’s field crop specialists from the comfort of your own home or office. To register for one or more webinar program in the series, visit the Field Crops Webinar Series Event page. Once registered, participants will receive an email containing a link to connect to the webinars.
For additional information or assistance, contact James Dedecker at 989-734-2168 or dedecke5@msu.edu. Call 989-734-2168 by February 15 to request accommodations for persons with disabilities. Requests received after this date will be fulfilled when possible.
Focus on Forages winter meetings slated for February and early March
Recent research findings from Michigan State University will be featured at six locations.
During the busy growing season, forage producers rarely have the opportunity to look at current university research to provide insights into increasing their current production due to perpetual harvesting that starts in May and ends in October. Meetings will begin in early February to give producers the opportunity to hear about recent forage research, forage demonstrations, and management from Michigan State University Extension. Alfalfa, grass, and corn silage producers, as well as custom harvesters, agribusiness professionals and consultants are invited to hear from some of the MSU Extension Forage Team at the six regional meetings to be held across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. An additional meeting is being planned for the Upper Peninsula later this winter.
Producers will be able to compare their current yields and practices compared to the findings from MSU. According to USDA NASS, the average yield for all hay and haylage is approximately 3.02 tons of dry matter/acre, (alfalfa 3.48 DM tons/acre, and grass 2.11 DM tons/acre) which is roughly half of what MSU will harvest on their research acres. USDA NASS also reports that in 2014, Michigan had approximately 1.21 million acres of hay and haylage and an additional 320,000 acres of corn silage.
Dr. Kim Cassida, MSU Forage Specialist, will present her findings and latest information on low lignin alfalfa at all locations. She has been building her research program at MSU since arriving in 2012 and is eager to share her results. Additional topics for discussion include Management of Roundup Ready Alfalfa, Management of Alfalfa/Grass Mixtures, a summary of the Michigan Forage Variety Test Report (both current and long-term), Birdsfoot Trefoil Management, 2015 Michigan Alfalfa Sulfur Survey summary, Forage Quality of Cover Crops for Hay and Silage, and Fertility and Forage Cost of Production. A special presentation via video will be done by Dr. Keith Bolsen, Kansas State University Professor Emeritus, on “Bunker Silo Silage Safety”. Additional members of the MSUE Forage Team will also be presenting.
Locally, there will be a meeting on February 17, 2016 at Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizer, 3055 M-21, St. Johns. All participants are asked to preregister.
To register online, pay by credit card or find additional dates and times, go to http://events.anr.msu.edu/focusonforages/. For those that are unable to register on-line, please contact Tina House at 810-667-0341 or at houset@msu.edu.
All meetings will be 10:00 am – 2:30 pm and include lunch. On-site registration begins at 9:30 am. The cost for the program is $30 per/person. 2 RUP credits are pending. For more information about the meetings, please contact Phil Kaatz at 810-667-0341 or by email at
kaatz@msu.edu.
Ducks Unlimited Annual Spring Wetlands Conservation Banquet
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.
The mission of Ducks Unlimited is to preserve ecologically important wetlands, on both private and public lands across North America. The Clinton County Wetlands Conservation banquet is the way for our local community to
help this important conservation program.
Chairman Chris Mikula extends an invitation to all conservation minded citizens to join him and his fellow committee volunteers for an evening of food and fun to help an important resource conservation program. The evening will include complimentary beverages and hors D’oeuvres and a catered dinner. There will be door prizes, a silent and
live auction and raffle tables that will include limited edition art prints, wildlife sculptures, firearms, crafts, collectible items, decoy carvings and many other special DU and local craft items.
The local DU committee wants everyone to know that the Clinton County DU banquet is for the entire family. We encourage dads to bring their wives and youngsters. Ticket prices are the same as they have been for the past eleven years.
For tickets, banquet information, or if you want to help on the local DU banquet planning committee, become a sponsor, or donate money or items, you can contact any of the following local committee members:
Joe Woodruff at 517-775-4474, Bob Bertoldi at 989-224-2856, Kurt Hufnagel at 989-224-2072, Craig Knight at 989-224-8687, Dr. Bob Jansen at 989-224-1441, Chris Mikula at 989-224-3654, Dale Rennells at 989-224-6632, Dennis Koenigsknecht at 989-224-4120 or Gale Bloomer at 989-224-8487.
For additional information about the local Clinton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, or about this years April 15th banquet, to become a sponsor, donate or to become a volunteer to “Help the Ducks” and join our committee, log onto the internet and check the organizations Facebook page at:
Clinton County Michigan Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, or check out the DU main website at www/ducks.org.
Help your kids fight Sugar Wars
February is Children’s Dental Health Month. Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD), in conjunction with My Community Dental Centers and local dentists, reminds you to give your child a smile that lasts a lifetime.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and this year’s them, Sugar Wars, urges children to defeat the effects of sugar and maintain good oral health by brushing, flossing, rinsing, and eating healthy snacks.
Good health habits should begin with an introductory visit to the dentist after your child’s first tooth erupts or before their first birthday. This early visit creates a positive experience and establishes a dental home before problems arise. A balanced diet, limited snacks, daily brushing and flossing and regular check-ups are the keys to healthy teeth and gums. Here are some additional tips from the American Dental Association to keep your young child’s mouth healthy and happy:
· Place only formula, milk or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with sugar water, juice or soft drinks.
· Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed.
· If your child uses a pacifier, don’t dip it in sugar or honey, or put it in your mouth before giving it to the child.
· Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday and discourage frequent or prolonged use of sippy cups.
· Serve nutritious snacks and limit sweets.
· Help your child avoid juice and soft drinks. Sugars and starches encourage the production of plaque which can attack tooth enamel. Also, it’s not just the sugar in soft drinks that decays teeth; it’s the acid too, making this double trouble.
If you are looking for a dental home for your child, consider the St. Johns Dental Center (1307 E. Townsend Road, St. Johns), operated by My Community Dental Centers, on behalf of MMDHD. The clinic is accepting new patients and is focused on serving persons enrolled in Medicaid and low-income uninsured. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 1-877-313-6232.
Mid-Michigan District Health Department plans meetings
Finance Committee And Regular Board Of Health Meetings for 2016
Finance Committee meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. and Regular meetings held at 10:00 a.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month, except for December.
Clinton County Branch Office 1307 E. Townsend Rd. St. Johns, MI 48879-9036 (989) 224-2195 on
February 24th,
May 25th,
August 24th,
November 23rd
Gratiot County Branch Office 151 Commerce Drive Ithaca, MI 48847-1627 (989) 875-3681on
March 23rd,
June 22nd,
September 28th,
December 21st
Administrative Offices 615 N. State Street, Suite 2 Stanton, MI 48888-9702 (989) 831-5237, ext. 3610 on
April 27th,
July 27th,
October 26th
Compassionate and caring, Bernard was tenacious in the many projects he and like-minded community leaders championed through the decades of the mid-20th century into the new millennium. His genuine concern and honest humor made it impossible to say no to Bernard when he had an idea he wanted to share with others. I can attest to that, as can many others who had the sometimes dubious honor of being on Bernard’s telephone chain. How we all will miss those calls and the sound of his voice, mixing a funny story with a request for help with this or that project – always for the benefit of the most vulnerable among us.
Congratulations to St. Johns Public Schools school nurse, Karla Palmer, for being selected as a Fitness Ambassador for the Michigan Fitness Foundation. 
If you visit the Gift Therapy Shop at Sparrow Clinton Hospital in the next few days, you’ll be in for some pleasant surprises. Not only will there be a shop-wide Sweetheart Sale from February 8-12, but you’ll also be eligible to cast a vote for one of four “Sweetheart Pet Contest” finalists and that vote could become part of an ultimate contribution to Clinton County Animal Shelter.
As the major fundraiser for Rotary, tens of thousands of dollars have been returned to local organizations and global projects, helping to enrich lives in the community and world-wide. Past support has gone to National Night Out, Toys for Tots, Sparrow Clinton Emergency Room expansion, and the fight against polio. 
Preparations are underway for the inaugural induction into the newly established St. Johns High School Athletic Hall of Fame, set for Friday, Sept. 9 at halftime of the varsity football game with Mason.
The First Congregational Church is sponsoring small group book discussions each week beginning on January 24. The subject is Max Lucado’s Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine.