SJPD to hold indoor yard sale at former Mint City Free Methodist Church
On Friday, September 7 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. the St. Johns Police Department will be holding an indoor yard sale at 409 S. Whittemore Street on Business 27, the former Mint City Free Methodist Church.
The City purchased the former church building earlier this summer to renovate and move the police department. The previous owners left many items behind, so rather than just throw it away SJPD is having a sale in the hopes that some of it can be re-used.
Most items will be priced like a garage sale, but there are a few larger items and antiques that are available to bid on. There is a wide variety of items – toys, baby swings, toy boxes, kitchen items, office chairs, desks, file cabinets, antique side tables, two long and two short church pews, lots of books (some quite old), older televisions, a piano, other church-related and religious theme wall hangings, a large wood pulpit, and other misc. items.
Planning for the Soap Box Derby
by Maralyn Fink
On Wednesday evening I attended the meeting for the Soap Box Derby which is planned for 2019. All of this information is tentative as it is the early stages of planning.
Things that were spoken of include having the derby at an earlier date, this being June 16, 2019. The race is open to boys and girls.
Some of the things that were spoken about are as follows: Every racer gets two races and the finish line will have a banner. Organizers are building their own ramps and announcing booth. Art Wainright and Mark Cowan were suggested as announcers. The possibility of having a Soap Box Derby Queen was also mentioned. As I said, anything is subject to change at this point.
There will be two race cars at a time, and no one can walk across Clinton Ave. because it will be considered the official race track. The winner of the St. Johns race would go to Akron, Ohio to compete.
Different Committees will be formed, and a lot of volunteers will be needed to make this a success. The race cars would cost $465, so sponsorships will really be needed.
For more information, please contact Dan Matson at 989-403-8581 or email him at danmatson8333@gmail.com.
Weekend crash at Uncle John’s proves fatal
A 37-year-old Michigan State University assistant professor died in a crash on Sunday at Uncle John’s Cider Mill north of St. Johns. Shengpan Lin, of China, was at a stop sign leaving Uncle John’s when when his car was struck by a motor home, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
According to a release from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, a small passenger car driven by Shengpan Lin was stopped at the stop sign at the exit to Uncle John’s when a motor home, driven by a 68-year-old man from Ontario “had some type of mechanical failure or blew out a tire therefore losing control, went into the right-hand ditch and across the exit drive striking the passenger car,” the release said.
The Sheriff’s Office confirms the driver of the motor home, the 68-year-old man from Ontario, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Sparrow Hospital where he was said to be in stable condition.
The crash shut down northbound lanes of US 127 for several hours Sunday afternoon.
Clinton County to hold Fall Waterfowl Hunt
The deadline for the drawing is Monday, October 1 st at 5:00pm. The drawing will be conducted on Wednesday, October 3 rd to select six (6) successful applicants for each of the thirteen (13) days when waterfowl hunting will be allowed in Clinton Lakes Park. Successful applicants will be provided a Hunting Permit for their approved date/s. Each permit holder may be accompanied by up to two guest hunters, as further defined in the
conditions page of the permit. Please be sure that all of the hunters in your group submit an application prior to the deadline.
The objective for public hunting of waterfowl in Clinton Lakes County Park is to manage nuisance geese. While geese are a special focus of the hunting program, successful applicants may hunt any waterfowl species, subject only to current federal and state game laws. An equally important objective is to provide area residents with a recreational opportunity to responsibly harvest an abundant source of nutritious food.
The local goose population is found in area parks year-round. Goose droppings deposited on swimming beaches, picnic areas, trails and other areas is unpleasant to view and recreate around. Droppings carried by rainwater into lakes and streams increases the bacteria found in the water which can cause waterborne illness in humans. Once the presence of bacteria reaches unhealthy levels, swimming beaches must be closed to the
public.
The year-round resident goose population found in Clinton Lakes and Francis Motz County Parks is estimated at several hundred. In the fall, the population swells to one-thousand or more birds when migratory flocks join the local birds. Unmanaged, the goose population will continue to grow making an existing bad situation worse. The Parks and Green Space Commission will accept applications for a managed waterfowl hunt on
thirteen (13) days in 2018.
The location of the 2018 waterfowl hunt is Clinton Lakes County Park, 4665 N. DeWitt Road, St. Johns, MI 48879. The 272-acre park was acquired by Clinton County in November 2013. The park contains a 90-acre lake and a 12-acre lake with a combined shoreline of approximately three miles. Hunting is an important way to manage the flock by providing area residents with an enjoyable outdoor recreation activity and food for
the family table, while dispersing geese and other waterfowl across the many other water bodies and wetlands in the area.”
Full details can be found on the application and permit forms available on-line at https://www.clinton-county.org/FormCenter/Parks-Recreation-9/Waterfowl-Hunting-Application-Clinton-La-72 or by visiting the Clinton County Courthouse, 100 E. State, Street – Suite 2100, St. Johns, MI 49979. You may also e-mail the Clinton County Parks and Green Space office at parks@clinton-county.org and the forms will be sent by a reply e-mail.
An Event So Good It’s Scary looking for sponsors
Businesses and organizations are invited to join in sponsoring the the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce’s annual An Event So Good It’s Scary Halloween event. The event will be held on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. The Chamber is asking for a $35 Sponsorship Fee.
This event promotes safe trick-or-treating and Halloween fun during the daylight hours. Your support and participation in this event will show your commitment to the community and will give promotion to your business/organization at the same time.
Between 3:30-5:30 p.m. on October 31, sponsors will hand out treats like candy, stickers and coupons to costumed children; provide hospitality and a warm smile to their parents. This would be a great time for you to focus
on marketing your business by offering a coupon or drawing to bring the parents back as future customers. For added excitement, dress up in costume and have fun with the children.
Want to participate but not from your business location? Pay the sponsorship fee mentioned above and participate in the festivities at the CC RESA Building. The Chamber will provide you with a table and chairs. You bring treats to hand out. All participants are encouraged to decorate their table space appropriately.
For more information email: ccchamber@4wbi.net or visit the website: www.clintoncountychamber.org.