September
SJPD has eyes on the tunnel
The St. Johns Police Department reports that multiple cameras have been installed along the FMCIS Rail Trail thanks to the generosity of New Look Computer & Data and Smith Lawnscapes, LLC
Local Author Uses Being STUCK to Help Others Get UNSTUCK
Tess Miller, owner of Wings Unfolded, LLC, today announced the publication of her new book, The Book of STUCK.
The Book of STUCK is a manual and workbook for anyone having a difficult time figuring out their next steps while navigating any life transition. Having danced with STUCK so many times over her career, Tess decided it was time to share her expertise with others. Through personal stories and short writing exercises, this book offers a new perspective on how people can stop holding themselves back so they can start confidently moving forward again.
“The Book of STUCK is a delightful, tangible, and relatable tool for all of us. Tess delivers a fun and easy narrative for defining our challenges in our lives and how to recognize and overcome them. Her exercises are insightful and powerful enough to uncover our own limiting beliefs and make a plan to get UNSTUCK,” says Rebecca Jeffreys, coach at Sprouting Healthy Families. “I’ll be keeping this book within arm’s reach!”
Superheroes 5K goes virtual
The Voice for Clinton County’s Children has made the decision to take their 2021 8th Annual Superhero 5K
virtual on Saturday, September 25, 2021.
This was a difficult decision. Even as they have been planning this year’s event, they knew that this may become a necessary decision. The safety of our community is important to the agency.
Ivan Iler featured now on Netflix
Local artist Ivan Iler is curently being featured in all six Metal Shop Masters episodes currently running on Netflix.
On this competition show, a group of metal artists torch, cut and weld epic creations from hardened steel. Only one will win a $50,000 prize.
Hammer in Hand Custom Cycles was founded in 2009 and has transformed into Ivan Iler Studios. Ivan Iler studios creates unique metal sculptures and kinetic creations.
The studio is located at 918 E State St. in St. Johns. https://www.ivanilerstudios.com/
The silos are on their way down
by Maralyn Fink
I stopped down to see the work on the removal of the Silos. They were removing the metal parts at this time.
We will continue to follow further developments.
Live Theater returns to the Wilson Center this weekend
Homegrown Productions is proud to present the comedy Leaving Iowa September 30 – October 3.
Performances are September 30, October 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and October 3 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wilson Center Auditorium, 101 W. Cass St., St. Johns.
“I’m thrilled to get this production on the road,” says director Susan DeRosa. “We had cast the show in March 2020 and scheduled our first rehearsal when COVID19 closed down public gatherings. When we started rehearsals last month, almost every member of the original cast was able to pick up where we left off. This was especially exciting as we are welcoming five actors who are new to Homegrown Productions.”
The cast features M.D. Nelson as Don, Darryl Schmitz ad Dad, Marci Balogh as Mom, and Debbie Lundeen as Sis. Chris Bouck, Lee Ettinger, Beverly Gross, Christopher Hibbs, Bob Pung, Ralph Simms, and Tom Webb play the remaining 21 characters that the family meets along the way.
General admission tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased the night of the performance at the box office in the Wilson Center.
To maintain safe distancing, some seats will be blocked off. The auditorium seats 400 people, so there will be plenty of space for your party to find seats together.
October
SJHS class of 1965 seeks to honor fallen classmates
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With the completion of a Memorial Highway for Ron Fitch coinciding with their reunion planning, many classmates from the Rodney B. Wilson Class of 1965 said that they would want to participate if anything was ever organized for John Sickles.
That got some of the committee to thinking, why wait? They brain stormed on possibilities and, they think they have come up with a wonderful tribute memorial to their Gold Star Classmates.
To honor their memory, they settled on creating a fund in their names that would live in perpetuity. They are proposing the creation of the Class of 1965 Sickles and Fitch Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to honor John and Ron.
They are seeking to raise a minimum of $10,000 to create a permanent endowment fund to be administered by the St. Johns Area Community Fund, a not for profit 501(c)(3) charity (www.sjacf.org). Once established, only the income generated each year would be used to provide support to qualified organizations in their efforts to improve social, economic, educational experiences and outcomes for St. Johns area children and youth in need in honor of John and Ron.
This support would take the form of assistance with:
Books, backpacks, hygiene and other drug store supplies, weekend and summer meals and any other possible requirement for students in need. There is a serious need for this assistance. If you would like additional knowledge, please check with any one of us for more information.
The idea caught on so well during the initial discussion with the committee and a few others that they are nearly half-way to their initial goal thanks to the generosity of six donors.
On behalf of those who knew John and Ron and want to memorialize them, organizers cordially invite you to make a tax-deductible gift or pledge of any amount to the St. Johns Area Community Fund in their names. They hope you will give serious consideration to this request to honor the memory of their friends and classmates and the ultimate sacrifice they made.
“We can’t all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
Marching Redwings take First Division ratings again
Even though the Michigan Band and Orchestra Festival had to be postponed for a week the St. Johns High School Marching Redwings added another year’s worth of straight division I ratings to their collection.
Closed effective October 19, 2021
A longtime local favorite restaurant has become another casualty of the pandemic. The Wheel Inn closed its doors for the last time on Monday.
We would like to thank each and everyone of you who have supported us over the past 22 years,” said owners John and Pam Foster. “When Juanita O’Leary approached us to purchase the business, we were so very grateful for this opportunity, but alas, the only constant in life is change, so we will be moving in a new direction and selling the property so that another fortunate business owner can make a living and employ local talent.”
The property went up for sale in September.
November
Health Department ready to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 years
Mid-Michigan District Health Department is now scheduling Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination appointments for children ages 5 to 11 years following Tuesday’s announcement that the Food and Drug Administration had granted emergency use authorization of the vaccine for this age group. The emergency use authorization has also been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination appointments for children ages 5 to 11 years can be made by calling the Mid-Michigan District Health Department branch office nearest you. Please keep in mind that a parent or legal guardian must accompany minors to all health department vaccination appointments.
The pediatric Pfizer vaccine consists of two shots, given at least three weeks apart with the doses being a third of what adults receive.
During clinical trials, the Pfizer vaccine was shown to be nearly 91 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5 to 11 with no serious side effects. The most common side effect was a sore arm.
St. Johns holds traditional Veterans Day celebration
Local singers to be featured November 13
Ellen Marco Hoard and Darryl Schmitz will be two of the featured performers in the upcoming show Yesterday: The 60s in Song at the Wilson Center, 101 W. Cass St., on Saturday. November 13 at 7 p.m.
For over 20 years, the popular Singers on the Grand have been entertaining mid-Michigan audiences with their high-quality shows. The twelve singers and seven band members will take you on a musical journey through your favorite songs of the decade.
Enjoy iconic music from the 1960s like songs from The Beatles, Motown, The Fifth Dimension, Sonny & Cher, The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, Simon and Garfunkel, The Mamas and the Papas, and many other favorite performers. Don’t miss the opening performance of their 2021-2022 season.
The Singers on The Grand ensemble vocalists are Mike Barger, Kelly Bitz, James Hall, Ellen Hoard, Charlie Martin, Katy Brandon McDonough, Rachel Paxton, Kaley Rahl, Kelly Sandula-Gruner, Darryl Schmitz, Dave Sincox, and Dan Templin. The Grand Band instrumentalists are John Dillingham, Don Farnum, Bill Holda, Jim Kasprzak, Pete Murthum, and John Ross.
Postponed SJHS Theatre production rescheduled
The St. Johns Teatre production of Anything Goes at SJHS has been rescheduled for the following dates and times:
Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 5, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
The annual Santa Parade will be taking place in downtown St. Johns on Friday, December 3rd. Since a large number of students will be performing in the parade as members of the Redwing March Band, there will not be a performance on Friday, December 3.
December
City Manager resigns
The St. Johns City Commission has announced the retirement of City Manager Jon Stoppels. He resigned as city manager effective November 5.
The Commission and city staff appreciate Jon’s four years of dedication to the city and its residents and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
St. Johns Deputy City Manager Dave Kudwa is Acting City Manager. Both he and City Treasurer Kristina Kinde will cover all City Manager responsibilities.
The City Commission will start a search for a new City Manager soon.
Fill Up A Cop Car a success
by Maralyn Fink
On Saturday, December 11, I stopped out at Kroger’s for the Fill A Cop Car. It was a cold windy day, but Police Officers Chad Pierson and Ryan Collier were on hand for the collection of food products.
There were six different locations in Bath, DeWitt, Ovid, and St. Johns. Between those locations folks filled twenty-four (24) cop cars with food and collected $4,193 in cash donations for local food banks in Clinton County.
Thanks to all for your donations. Many more people will have much needed food this winter!
Elementary students have been caroling
On Wednesday, December 15 Mrs Smith’s class and all the 1st grade teachers and students at Gateway Elementary in St. Johns put together a special program for George French, the 96 year-old grandfather of one of the students.
Meanwhile the Eureka Elementary 3rd, 4th and 5th graders were Zoom caroling with residents of Grace Haven Assisted Living.