Lifelike Barn Owl carving donated to IQhub
St Johns resident Richard “Dick” Woodhams is a 90 year old young man, who began carving after he retired from farming over 20 years ago. He started carving ducks with a friend, and then later his friend encouraged Dick to go to Gwinn, Michigan for carving classes.
From a piece of Tupelo wood, Dick set out to carve a Barn Owl in the fall of 2020 and worked on it throughout the winter as his eyesight allowed. With some health issues over the winter, Dick credits his friend for helping him finish the lifelike piece of art. Recently, Dick and his wife Marie, delivered the amazing, lifelike Barn Owl to the IQhub and presented it to AgroLiquid CEO Nick Bancroft. The Barn Owl is on display near the entrance of the IQhub.
Living in Michigan all year long, the beautiful but elusive Barn Owl is easily identified by its beautiful plumage and heart-shaped face. Barn Owls actually nest in many man-made structures including barns, which is where they got their name. Barn Owls, like other owls, are nocturnal and may be spotted at night hunting for small mammals. They are able to track and capture their prey by sound alone better than any other animal ever tested.
AgroLiquid CEO Nick Bancroft says, “On behalf of the IQhub, we’d like to thank Dick and his friend for this amazing gift that visitors of all ages will enjoy for years to come. Be sure to look up for the Barn Owl as you enter the IQhub on your next visit!”
MMDHD vaccination update
In this video Mid Michigan Health Department Health Officer Marcus Cheatham talks about how to get on the waiting list, new CDC gathering guidelines and more.
Hometown man is back in the area with a new book
Thom Paseka who graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School with the class of 1962 has led quite a life, and now he has returned to the area to share some of his thoughts with us.
Just Thoughts, published by Balboa Press, is kind of a distillation of some of his musings in the form perhaps of prose poetry.
The book begins, “All we need is in front of us.”
Fellow author Janet Halfmann says of the book:
A wonderful book for helping one to realize what are the most important things of life and for finding peace. I especially like Thom’s advice to “Look through your heart, not your eyes.” I will be rereading the thoughts in this book often.
Another reviewer says, “This book is wonderfully thought provoking. I enjoy reading a page each day and then reflecting on the message throughout the day. The author has great personal insight.”
After high school Thom graduated from Michigan State University where he majored in English, Philosophy, Psychology and Business. Over the years he was a hair designer for 52 years, owning two salons, Innervision Hair Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii and Riccardo Hair Salon in Lansing.
“I am a Street Psychologist,” he says. “My clients are my Hair clientele.”
Thom’s book is available in paperback and Kindle ebook format from Amazon.
Drive-Thru Easter Egg Event is April 3
The St. Johns Lioness Club will be hosting a Drive-Thru Easter Egg Event on Saturday, April 3 at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Johns City Park.
Following recommended health and safety precautions, workers will be distributing bags of plastic eggs to children through the age of ten. Eggs will contain toys, wrapped candy, or coins. There will be special eggs provided for children under age three.
– Children ages 4 to 10 will receive a bag of plastic eggs containing toys, candy, or coins.
There will be special eggs for children under 3. Workers passing out the bags will be following
all recommended health and safety precautions.
– A few children will be awarded prize baskets, and many cars will be surprised with gift cards!
This is strictly a drive-thru event; passengers must remain in cars and no walk-ups will be permitted.This community event is made possible through the support of the City of St. Johns and local businesses and groups.
Clinton County Catalyst elects officers
The Clinton County Economic Alliance (CCEA) is pleased to announce the 2021 officers elected by the Board of Director and the Executive Committee members who will serve through December 31, 2021.
They are:
– Craig Bishop, Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bishop is Market President/Middle Market Commercial Lending with TCF Bank;
– David Kudwa, Vice Chairman. Mr. Kudwa is Deputy City Manager/Community Development Director of the City of St. Johns
– Nicholas Bancroft, Treasurer. Mr. Bancroft is CEO of AgroLiquid
Rounding out the Executive Committee are Mike Bills, principal with MB Strategies LLC, Allen Blower, partner with Clark Construction Co., Beth Daugherty, MPH, President of Sparrow Clinton Hospital, and Dr. Wayne Petroelje, superintendent of Clinton County RESA.
President and CEO Dru L. Mitchell will continue as Secretary to the Board.
CCEA would like to thank outgoing Board Chairman Kathryn Burkholder of Consumers Energy for her dedicated service to the organization and leadership as board chairman the past two years,¡¨ said CCEA Chairman Bishop.
Additional members of the 2021 Board are: Patricia Barnas, First National Bank of Michigan; Jessica Chant-Smith, Bingham Township; Dan Coss – City of DeWitt; Bruce DeLong – Clinton County Board of Commissioners; Kurt Hanus, Mercantile Bank; Charles Hauser, Granger Waste Services; Brian Holland, DTN Management; Shawn Middleton, Spicer Group, Inc.; David North, MWC LLC; Charles Rusti Owens,C2AE; Travis Roberts, Tri-Area Trucking School; James Rundell, Sam Eyde Co.; Kaylan Kennel, Michigan Milk Producers Association; Nicholas Tafelsky, Bath Charter Township; James Tedder. ITC Michigan; Jessica Tramontana, Consumers Energy; and Brett Wittenberg, DeWitt Charter Township.
Visit clintoncountycatalyst.org to connect with members and partners, learn about resources, and discover opportunities in Clinton County. Join the catalyst movement today.
2021 Congressional Art Competition deadline April 16
Congressman John Moolenaar invites all high school students from Michigan’s Fourth Congressional District to enter their art in the 2021 Congressional Art Competition.
The winning student from the Fourth District will have their art displayed at the U.S. Capitol for a year. It is also possible that the Congressional Institute, which runs the competition, will hold an event in Washington D.C. later this year to honor winning students from across the country. If the event is held, the winning student from the Fourth District will receive two round-trip airline tickets to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the event.
All entries will be displayed at the Midland Center for the Arts after the competition ends. Regional winners from the Fourth District will have the opportunity for their art to be displayed in Congressman Moolenaar’s Midland and Cadillac offices.
The entry deadline for this year’s Fourth District contest is Friday, April 16, 2021. Entries should be mailed or delivered to Congressman Moolenaar’s Midland office at 200 East Main Street, Suite 230, Midland, MI 48640.
More information on the rules and how to enter the art competitions is online at moolenaar.house.gov/artcompetition Interested students who need assistance transporting their art to Midland or who have additional questions on the competition should contact Congressman Moolenaar’s Midland office at 989-631-2552.
Michigan’s Fourth Congressional District is made up of Clare, Clinton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon, Shiawassee, and Wexford counties, and parts of Montcalm and Saginaw counties.