St. Johns shines at Silver Bells in the City
Congratulations to the St. Johns Redwing High School Marching Band, winners of the Best Illuminated Band Award during the Silver Bells in the City Electric Light Parade. The band will receive $500 courtesy of the Lansing Board of Water & Light and a $500 gift card courtesy of Marshall Music.
Thanks to outgoing City Commissioners
Mayor Eric Hufnagel thanks the outgoing City Commissioners, Bob Craig and Tammy Kirschenbauer, for their years of service on the commission.
Weber awarded NOSORH’s 2022 Community Star
Michigan Center for Rural Health congratulated NOSORH’s 2022 Community Star from Michigan, Lynn Weber EMT-P/IC, Director of Clinton Area Ambulance Service Authority in St. Johns, Michigan.
Lynn is a devoted advocate for EMS education and payment reform. He also started one of Michigan’s first Community Paramedicine Special Study programs. Over the years, Lynn has ensured the community is aware of what is happening in rural ambulance service and healthcare. However his passion for EMS education goes beyond just his work efforts. He also spends his free time teaching CPR and first response-related skills.
Congratulations, Lynn, on this tremendous recognition. Thank you for all of your tireless efforts in serving Michigan’s rural health populations.
Bath student wins Virtual Reality Oculus
Mr. Paul Hartsig, Bath Superintendent; Ms. Emily Fritz, Bath HS Counselor; Ms. Madison Margraves, Clinton County Farm Bureau Board Member; Mr. Kevin Zimmerlee, Winning Bath HS Student; Ms. Paisley Hudson, Cousin; Ms. Erin Zimmerlee, Mother of Kevin; Mr. Bob Craig, CC RESA Agri-Science, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) Education Advisory Committee Chair; and Ms. Jennifer Branch, CC RESA Career/Technical Education Director. (Photo Courtesy of Ms. Alisha Clavelli, Teacher, Bath High School).
Lucky Bath High School Sophomore Kevin Zimmerlee signed up for Clinton County RESA’s Agriscience Program and won a Virtual Reality Oculus.
Bath High School Sophomore Kevin Zimmerlee likes to work outdoors. He recently attended the November 2 Clinton County Clinton County RESA Career EXPO at DeWitt High School. Kevin was interested in the Agri-Science, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) Education and FFA Program and entered into a random drawing for a $400+ Meta Quest 2 Oculus (Virtual Reality) Headset and Controller, donated by the Clinton County Farm Bureau.
The random drawing contest was open to all 10th grade students interested in Clinton County RESA AFNR and in good academic standing. Kevin Zimmerlee was declared the winner.
A total of over 1,600 8th and 10th grade students from all six of the public-school districts in Clinton County participated in the Career EXPO, including: Bath, DeWitt, Fowler, Ovid-Elsie, Pewamo-Westphalia and St. Johns Schools.
The Clinton County RESA AFNR Education Program and FFA Chapter will be located at St. Johns High School for juniors and seniors, starting in Fall 2023.
Remember When – A hunting legacy from 2011
by Rhonda Dedyne
Michigan’s firearm deer season is at a close, at least the traditional two-week hunt, and lots of guys and gals have returned from the woods, both close to home and far away. About 700,000 hunters purchased licenses for Michigan’s various deer seasons, and Dale Martens was one of them.
There’s nothing special about one individual being part of such a large group, except for one thing – the Riley Township resident hasn’t missed a hunt in 50 years, and they’ve all been at the same location in the western Upper Peninsula.
The annual U.P. trip originated with Howard Martens and included assorted relatives, like Dale’s father, Maynard, and other family and friends. Many of them hunted long before Dale ever picked up a rifle – they’ve since passed on to happier hunting grounds.
“I’ve been very, very fortunate to be able to go every year since 1961,” the semi-retired farmer says, citing the pleasure of setting up hunting camp with his dad, sons, cousins, neighbors and friends. “We’ve had good times together – lots of laughs and lots of bucks brought home.”
That was the case once again in 2011. The group of hunters brought home some fine deer: three eight-points, one six-point, and a pair of five-point bucks.
“It was a good hunt, and a real good camp – some snow, but not too much,” Dale says about the camp that began Nov. 12 and ended the day after Thanksgiving. Along with Dale, this year’s crew included his sons, Kevin and Jim; brother, Cliff, and his son, Eric; and brother-in-law, Kenny Crowell.
A lengthy list of others over the past 50 years includes Everett Martens and his son, Mark; Dave Jegla, Joe Pung and his son, Jim Pung; Red (Laverne) Silm, Art Hahn, Jim O’Connor, Chuck Horman, Darwin Sehlke, Carl Krumm, Earl Flegler Sr., Lester Sehlke and Cyril Jegla – and probably others.
The destination this year was the same as always: the Ottawa National Forest in the vicinity of Matchwood Tower Road, east of Lake Gogebic where two-tracks are the only way in and out – and sometimes there’s no path at all.
“We’ve set up camp in pretty much the same spot all these years, near the forest tower, but we all go to our separate blinds each day to hunt miles away from the camp,” Dale, the camp’s cook, says. “Breakfast is at 5 a.m. – the other guys have to do dishes and make sandwiches – then we leave by daylight and are back by dark.”
Like many other hunters, the Martens’ camp is fully equipped with all the modern conveniences – at least when it comes to food and eating. There’s a full-size outdoor grill, oven and stove-top in the cabin-on-wheels, and a generator big enough to power a small house that provides heat and electricity.
The luxurious set-up is just a little different from what Dale, his cousin, Everett, and their fathers used 50 years ago. The home-made “camper” was positioned on a small, flat-bed truck where snow chains on the tires were essential for getting in – and out – of the U.P. back woods.
“We still take the chains along, just in case,” Dale says, recalling a story from 1959 before he made the trip with his dad and uncle. “There was a big storm during the night and when they got up in the morning it had snowed so much, they couldn’t see the top of a yardstick when they poked it into the snow. That time, the Forest Service had to send a bulldozer to dig them out.”
Wolves and bears are frequent guests at the camp, especially in recent years.
“A wolf was stalking Kenny a couple years ago,” Dale says, “and bears come in close on a regular basis. One picked up a bag of apples by Cliff’s blind and ran off with it into the woods.”
For deer-camp lovers everywhere, it’s the camaraderie – and all those good stories which seem to get better with each passing year – that’s as important as bagging a buck. Maybe even more important.
“I’m not sure how many more years I’ll go, but it’s good to know that these guys want to keep it up,” Dale says. “I appreciate going and being with everyone, and the good memories of family and friends over the years.”