Last day of school for the Wilson Center
June 10 was the last day at The Wilson Center for Nicole Dollarhite Everts. Here she shares some of her photos that bring memories back for several generations of St. Johns residents.
Flag Day 2021
courtesy of Lousma Aerial via Facebook
Farmer’s Market has something for everyone
Here is just a sampling of what is available at the St. Johns Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon on Maple Avenue west of the courthouse.
Want to be a vendor? The cost is $5 each Saturday you are there. Contact market manager Shirley Davis for more details: (989) 224-7863.
Remember When – Where are these Clinton County veterans buried?
By Rhonda Dedyne in 2014
Gordon Shipley has been a man on a mission for more than a decade.
The quest – create a database of all Clinton County veterans who have lost their lives in all wars of the United States that includes detailed information about each person: birth and death dates; service records; burial locations.
On Memorial Day 2014 as we pay homage once again to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country, the Vietnam veteran’s mission is nearly complete. Shipley is reasonably confident that the names of all deceased veterans are engraved on granite tablets that are part of the Clinton County Veterans Memorial in downtown St. Johns – but he is still searching for burial site and other information on a trio of veterans.
Those servicemen include Joseph Esch who served and died in World War I; Gilbert Carrasco who lost his life in World War II; and Korea veteran, William Jewel.
“I’ve been able to gather quite a bit of information about all three through research on various web sites and newspaper articles and even in conversations with relatives, but I still do not have burial site information for them,” Shipley says.
What he does know about each is impressive.
Joseph Esch was born Aug. 28, 1878 in Westphalia. He moved to Canada where he served as a sergeant in the Canadian Army Troop. His death date is unknown. Shipley’s research from a newspaper article during World War I shows that a brother in Grand Rapids received notice of Joseph’s death. Shipley believes he may be buried in Canada.
Gilbert Carrasco was initially listed as missing in action on Christmas Day 1945; later updated to killed in action on that date. Shipley suspects he may have died during the Battle of the Bulge. His widow, Trinidad Gomez, is believed to be from St. Johns. Shipley’s research indicates that his wife flew to Maverick County, Texas. It was thought that Carrasco might be buried in Eagle Pass, Texas, but that has not been confirmed. He may be buried in Mexico.
William Jewel attended Lemming School in Olive Township, but little else is known about his life in Clinton County. He was killed in Korea on March 4, 1951, while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. He received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Shipley has no record of when his body was returned to the United States or where he might be buried. It is believed that Jewel was born in the Bellvue area and may be buried there, but that has not been confirmed.
Shipley is optimistic that information on the burial locations of the three veterans will come to light – someday.
“Someone has the information, somewhere, and eventually I hope they let me know,” he says.
In the meantime, Shipley continues to search web sites like “Find A Grave” and data bases for National Cemeteries around the United States. Those have been helpful in securing burial information on Civil War veterans who lived in Clinton County.
“There are probably 100 Civil War veterans on the Clinton County list that I do not have burial information about,” he says. “There are good records on the deaths of Civil War veterans, but not always where they are buried – some may be in unmarked graves.”
If you have information on the burial locations of Esch, Carrasco and Jewel, or any of the veterans on the total Clinton County Veterans List that’s included in this week’s St. Johns Independent, contact Shipley at (989) 224-4792, or email the Indy at mail@sjindy.com.
Shipley’s list and current information on Clinton County veterans is available for on-site review only at Briggs Public Library in downtown St. Johns; not available for check-out.
Visit Find a Grave at http://www.findagrave.com/
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – Why Do Cats Get Stuck in Trees?
courtesy of Kate Hughes
As a species, cats are known for their grace, agility and athleticism. However, there is one physical feat with which many cats have struggled—getting down after they climb a tree.
Why does a cat climbing a tree have so much trouble descending?
Why Do Cats Climb Trees in the First Place?
Katenna Jones, an associate certified applied animal behaviorist, certified cat behavior consultant and owner of Jones Animal Behavior in Warwick, Rhode Island, says that cats are an interesting species from a behavioral perspective because they can be predators to small creatures while being vulnerable to larger animals.
“You see behaviors at both ends of the predator/prey spectrum. So, as skilled hunters, they may chase their prey up a tree without realizing what they’ve gotten themselves into. On the other side of the coin, cats tend to go high when they feel threatened. So if a cat feels his life is in danger, he would very likely run up a tree, which offers safety and a vantage point,” explains Jones.
That said, Jones notes that looking too deeply into a cat’s reasons for climbing a tree might be a moot point. “Cats may also climb trees because they can and it’s fun,” she says.
Why Do They Get Stuck?
It’s really easy for cats to climb trees—cat claws are the ideal tools for propelling them upwards. But once they’re up high, they’ll find that getting down is much more difficult than getting up.
“A cat in a tree may have trouble coordinating their hind and front feet when they try to back down. It’s just not a movement cats normally do,” says Susan Bulanda, a canine and feline ethologist, author, and search and rescue trainer who lives in Maryland.
Bulanda adds that most cats jump from high places rather than climb down. “Think about it. When your cat climbs the couch, does she climb down? Or does she jump? Almost always, I would say jump. When cats climb trees, oftentimes it’s just too high to jump down and that’s why they get stuck.”
Dr. Myrna Milani, a veterinarian, consultant, teacher and author based in Charlestown, New Hampshire, says that in some cases, the ability to get down might not be the problem. “Sometimes, when a cat is ‘stuck’ in a tree, he’s really too scared to climb or jump down. It may be because something chased him up there, or he’s not used to being outside,” she explains.
Dr. Milani also notes that indoor cats that have been declawed are at greater risk of getting stuck in a tree if they manage to get outside. Declawed cats are unable to climb as well, but they can still climb. “These cats are at a big disadvantage when it comes to getting down from a tree. If they’re scared, they can get up without much issue, but coming down is nearly impossible.”
What To Do If A Cat Is Stuck in a Tree
While the old cartoons and TV shows tend to depict hysterical cat owners calling the fire department when their cat gets stuck in a tree, that is very much an exaggerated reaction.
Dr. Milani says the number one priority is keeping calm. “Standing under the tree where your cat is stuck and sobbing isn’t going to help anyone,” she says. “Stay calm and relaxed, because you don’t want to make your cat more agitated.”
Here are a few strategies that you can use to help get your cat out of a tree.
Lure Her With Food
As noted earlier, some cats that are “stuck” are simply choosing not to come down out of fear or for other cat-related reasons. Dr. Milani recommends putting out some of his favorite cat food that could entice your kitty to come down from his perch. Warming up some wet food slightly will increase the aroma so that you can coax cats down from the tree faster in most cases.
“In some areas, this would run the risk of attracting other animals, so if you’re going this route, I would suggest hanging out under the tree near the food. Bring a book and just relax, because that will show your cat that it’s okay to come down,” says Dr. Milani.
Climb Up After Her
Both Jones and Bulanda mention this option with a very big caveat—only climb up after the cat if you’re physically able, and never do it without assistance. “You must always have someone on the ground as a spotter,” Bulanda says. “That way, if you fall, or something else happens, there’s another person who can get help.”
Jones emphasizes that people should only attempt to retrieve the cat themselves if the cat is relatively calm and trusts them. “A stranger might scare the cat into a more dangerous situation,” she says.
Jones also notes that contacting a local roofing, painting, contracting, pest control or electric company could be helpful. “They might have an extra-long ladder to borrow.”
Make a Ramp
“Depending on the tree and how high your cat climbed, you might be able to use a sturdy board as a ramp to give the cat an easy route down,” Bulanda says. “This strategy is much less risky to you and less risky to the cat than climbing up after him.”
Call for Help
If the cat is too agitated, too high up, or you’re otherwise unable to rescue her yourself, it’s time to consult with professionals. “Call your local animal shelter or rescue. They probably have advice or helpful resources on hand,” Bulanda says.