SJHS Theatre to present Mamma Mia
by Maralyn Fink
On Monday afternoon I attended the dress rehearsal at the St. Johns High School for their upcoming play, Mamma Mia.
It will be performed on Friday, November 9 at 7 p.m.; Saturday November 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday November 11 at 2 p.m. This will be under the direction of Mr. Barry Palmer, Mrs. Nichol Eller, Mra Dawn Flynn and pit director Mr. Drew Jones.
This is from the musical group ABBA. This sunny take unfolds on a Greek Island paradise telling the story of a young woman’s search for the birth father.
Health Department announces annual award winners
Mid-Michigan District Health Department held its annual district-wide meeting on November 2, 2018, at which Outstanding Performance and Years of Service awards were presented. The following employees received awards and are appreciated for their dedication to public health and for serving the residents of Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties.
Outstanding Performance Awards
Outstanding Performance Awards were presented to, left to right: Andrea Tabor, Community Health and Education Division Director (Health Officer’s Award); Tracey Larabel, Accounting Clerk II (Administrative Division Outstanding Performance); Courtney Beagle, Public Health Representative II (Community Health and Education Division Outstanding Performance); and Nathan Jammer, Environmental Health Specialist I (Environmental Health Outstanding Performance).
Years of Service Awards
Years of Service awards were presented to, left to right: Erin Morgan, Community Health Worker (10 years), Lisa Mikesell, Community Health Nurse III (10 years); Samantha Tran, Public Health Representative II (10 years); Andrew Holdeman, IT Specialist (5 years); and Charity Little, Environmental Health Specialist II (10 years). Not pictured- Lisa Smith, Public Health Representative II (10 years).
St. Johns Festival of Lights and Santa Parade to host live music
MSU’s award winning co-ed a cappella group “State of Fifths” will be performing live this year at the St. Johns Light Festival and Santa Parade.
Make sure to visit the first block shortly after the parade to hear this talented group. Mark your calendars to visit Downtown St. Johns Friday, December 7th.
Musical Team of Easterling and Richards performing November 17
The incredible musical duel of Tenor Stephen Easterling and Pianist Jeff Richards can be heard in an hour-long special recital on Saturday, November 17 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the beautiful, historic, Wilson Center Auditorium.
Easterling, a choir teacher in the Laingsburg School District, has been performing as a vocalist throughout Michigan for several years. His recital will focus on African American spirituals along with some Aaron Copland songs and others.
Richards, Music Director of St. Joseph Parish and St. Johns High School graduate, who lived in and performed throughout Chicago for many years, will provide the accompaniment.
A free will offering will be taken with all the proceeds going to the Wilson Center Auditorium renovation project as the committee raises funds for a new lighting system. A dessert reception will follow the program.
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Wilson Center Auditorium – Upcoming 2018 Dates
Saturday, November 10 – Singers on the Grand kick off their 21st Season – 7:00 p.m. 10-Wonderful
Singers with a Great 6-Piece Band – Broadway, Pops, Jazz, Gospel! $10
Saturday, November 17 – Vocal Recital featuring Tenor Stephan Easterling & Pianist Jeff Richards
7:00 p.m. Two Great Local Musicians! Spirituals, Copland and more! Free Will Offering
November 30-December 1 – Homegrown Productions annual Holiday Show – 7:30 p.m. A Wonderful
Evening of Holiday Skits and Music for the Whole Family! Come & Enjoy! $5
Tuesday, December 4 – The Annual St. Johns Community Band Christmas Concert – 7:00 p.m.
Our local Community Band’s tradition Holiday Concert! Free Will Offering
Friday, December 7 – Emmy-Award Winning Kitty Donohoe and Friends – 7:00 p.m. Singer/
Songwriter Kitty Donohoe along with 2 musician friends will bring their Folk, Irishy and Canadianish Mix to the WC Stage in this not to be missed concert. $10
Saturday, December 8 – Elvis and Friends “Toys for Tots” Benefit Show – 7:00 p.m. Features
Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, George Strait & Elvis! $10 or Unwrapped Toy
Friday, December 14 – Mint City Singers present their annual Holiday Concert” – 7:30 p.m.
Featuring Popular Early 20th Century Favorites and Seasonal Songs. Free Will Offering
Saturday, December 15 – “Big Band Saturday Night” with the Lansing Concert Jazz Band – 7:00 p.m.
This special 18-piece Big Band with their 2 Dynamic Singers will feature Jazz
Standards along with Christmas Classics. $10/$5
Sunday, December 16 – Mountain Town Brass Holiday Concert – 7:00 p.m. This exceptional
program will feature the best of traditional and seasonal brass music. Free Will Offering
For more information, please visit the Wilson Center Auditorium Facebook and Web Sites
Wilson Center Auditorium wilsoncenterauditorium.org.
Michigan 4-H members and MSU students compete at World Dairy Expo
Sarah Black, Miriam Cook, Ian Black, Jessica Nash, Caitie Theisen, Joe Domecq
Two teams and one individual representing Michigan competed at the National Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin on October 1. Post-secondary and collegiate participants judged twelve classes of cattle and gave five sets of oral reasons to justify their placings on a given class, while 4-H members judged ten classes and gave five sets of oral reasons.
Competing in the 4-H division of the competition were Michigan 4-H’ers Ian Black from Eagle, Miriam Cook from Pewamo, Caitie Theisen from Mt. Pleasant, and Jessica Nash from St. Johns. Overall the team placed eighth in oral reasons and sixteenth overall. Cook also placed eighth as an individual in oral reasons. In the individual breed classes, the team placed sixth in Brown Swiss, third in Guernsey and seventh in Jersey. Cook also placed well in the individual breed classes, placing eighth in Guernsey, and seventh in Jersey.
“Walking into this, I knew that judging in Madison at the World Dairy Expo was a blessing not many people get to have,” reflected Cook. “The expectations are high, the competition deep and the cattle beautiful. It wouldn’t have mattered how the results turned out, I was overjoyed just to judge on the colored shavings.”
Competing in the 2-year junior college team division were Gerrit Baker from Byron Center, Kristen Burkhardt from Fowlerville, Miriah Dershem from St. Johns, and Rebeka McDonald from Conklin. All four are students in Michigan State University’s Institute of Agricultural Technology Dairy Program and Michigan 4-H alumni. The team finished in second place overall and third in oral reasons, out of a total of 16 teams. As results of their top-three finish, the team earned an invitation for a two-week study abroad in Europe in June 2019.
Individually, Burkhardt placed sixth overall and third in oral reasons, while Dershem placed seventh overall, each out of 56 total competitors. In the Ayrshire breed class, Dershem placed seventh and Burkhardt eighth, while the team placed second. Both Burkhardt and the team placed second in the Brown Swiss class, while in the Guernsey class, Dershem was fifth and the team was eighth. Dershem took home top honors in the Holstein breed, with Baker placing tenth and the team placing third. The team won the Jersey class while Baker placed fourth and Dershem eighth, and the team was sixth in the Red and White class. Both Dershem and the team placed first in the Milking Shorthorn class, while McDonald was fourth and Burkhardt was sixth.
“As a team, we set a goal of placing third and going to Europe next summer,” said Dershem. “I’m proud to say that not only did we exceed that goal, but we made many connections and memories along the way that will last a lifetime.”
Relay For Life Kick Off is November 27
The Relay For Life Of Clinton County Kick Off will be held on Tuesday November 27, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. at AgroLiquid, 3055 M-21-St. Johns.
Relay is community driven fundraising walk where individuals and teams of friends, family and colleagues celebrate cancer survivors, remember those we have lost to cancer, and fight back by raising money and awareness in the fight against cancer. Team members take turns walking the track throughout the event. Food, games, music and activities provide entertainment and add to the festivities.
Find out how you can help save lives from cancer in your community. For more information or to register, visit:
www.relayforlife.org/clintoncountymi.