The St. Johns Police Department wants to thank those that have brought in meals or snacks for our officers this week.
Breaking News!
March 25
The Victor Township Hall is closed to the public until further notice. Contact them by phone 517-651-2094 or email info@victortwp.org.
March 24
Clinton Transit
Effective, Wednesday, March 25 our phones will be open to schedule a ride from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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The Nordic Pineapple is closed at least through April 13.
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Clinton-Gratiot Habitat for Humanity will be closing the Habitat offices and the ReStore for both donations and shopping and to comply with Gov. Whitmers order (EO2020-21) to close all operations of non essential services.
The ReStore and Habitat offices will remain closed until 4/14/2020.
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Governor asks residents to “stay home, stay safe, save lives”
Yesterday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), directing Michiganders to temporarily stay in their homes unless they’re a part of the critical infrastructure workforce, engaged in an outdoor activity, or performing tasks necessary to the health and safety of themselves or their family.
The Executive Order went into effect on March 24 at 12:01 a.m. and will continue until April 13, 2020.
What does the Executive Order mean for residents? Under this “stay at home” order, all Michiganders must stay in their homes, with a few exceptions. Some of those exceptions include:
– To get take-out food from a restaurant or bar or to go to the grocery store
– To go to the pharmacy to get prescriptions
– To go to the bank or credit union
– To get gas
– To go to work (if part of the critical infastructure workforce)
– To care for a family member
– To volunteer for an organization that provides food assistance
– To engage in recreation, such as going for a walk, run or bike ride
See the Executive Order 2020-21 for a full list of exceptions.
Anyone leaving their homes must stay at least six feet from others, not counting those with whom they live.
What does the executive order mean for businesses? Businesses that employ critical infrastructure workers may continue in-person operations, but must follow social distancing practices to protect workers and patrons, including the promotion of remote work to the fullest extent possible and preventing workers from entering the premises if they display respiratory symptoms.
Workers who are considered critical include health care and public health, law enforcement and first responders, gas station and grocery store workers, childcare workers, restaurant employees, and more. See the Executive Order 2020-21 for a full list of critical infrastructure workers.
In just 14 days Michigan has gone from 0 cases of COVID-19 to over 1,000 cases. We all need to do our part to stop COVID-19. If everyone stays home, except for critical services, we will slow the spread.
“It is very important for everyone to follow the emergency order,” said Marcus Cheatham, Health Officer for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD). “The order will help us avoid overwhelming the health care system. Without the order there is a risk we will be overwhelmed like other countries that didn’t react in time.”
There are a number of things we all can do to help stop the spread of COVID-19. They include:
– If you think you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital.
– Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
– Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
– Avoid contact with those who are sick.
– If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others.
– Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in public.
Mid-Michigan District Health Department is working closely with local, State and Federal agencies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. For reliable and up-to date information, follow MMDHD on Facebook, and visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Those who have COVID-19 questions can call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-535-6136 daily between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
March 23
The monthly meeting of Mint Country Garden Club will NOT be held this April due to concerns about the Covid 19 virus. We will keep members updated about future meetings.
For further information about meetings or how to become a member, email mintcountrygardenclub@gmail.com or call 517-599-6307.
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Whimsical Party Gallery will be open for pick up tonight from 6-8 p.m. owner will be at the studio from 2-4 p.m.
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Please note that even though Covid-19 has closed the St. Johns St. Vincent de Paul store, they are still available to take client assistance requests for emergency needs such as rent, utilities, etc.
Requests can be made by calling the Client Assistance number at 989 292-7057.
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Today Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life.
Individuals may leave their home or place of residence, and travel as necessary:
– To engage in outdoor activity, including walking, hiking, running, cycling, or any other recreational activity consistent with remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household.
– To perform their jobs as critical infrastructure workers after being so designated by their employers. (Critical infrastructure workers who need not be designated under section 5(a) may leave their home for work without a designation.)
– To conduct minimum basic operations, as described in section 4(b), after being designated to perform such work by their employers.
– To perform necessary government activities, as described in section 6.
– To perform tasks that are necessary to their health and safety, or to the health and safety of their family or household members (including pets). Individuals may, for example, leave the home or place of residence to secure medication or to seek medical or dental care that is necessary to address a medical emergency or to preserve the health and safety of a household or family member (including procedures that, in accordance with a duly implemented nonessential procedures postponement plan, have not been postponed).
– To obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves, their family or household members, and their vehicles. Individuals must secure such services or supplies via delivery to the maximum extent possible. As needed, however, individuals may leave the home or place of residence to purchase groceries, take-out food, gasoline, needed medical supplies, and any other products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and basic operation of their residences.
– To care for a family member or a family member’s pet in another household.
– To care for minors, dependents, the elderly, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.
– To visit an individual under the care of a health care facility, residential care facility, or congregate care facility, to the extent otherwise permitted.
– To attend legal proceedings or hearings for essential or emergency purposes as ordered by a court.
– To work or volunteer for businesses or operations (including both and religious and secular nonprofit organizations) that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals, individuals who need assistance as a result of this emergency, and people with disabilities.
Individuals may also travel
– To return to a home or place of residence from outside this state.
– To leave this state for a home or residence elsewhere.
– To travel between two residences in this state.
– As required by law enforcement or a court order, including the transportation of children pursuant to a custody agreement.
To see the entire Executive Order see www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.
March 22
Big Boy of St. Johns has made the decision to close for the time being, regroup and evaluate their options.
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Due to COVID-19 the deadline for bids on the Rodney B. Wilson Center has been extended to Friday, April 17 at 2:00PM.
March 20
OUCH Urgent Care is in need of face masks. If you sew, here are directions for making them.
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Clinton County Sheriff’s Office will be closing the lobby to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Below are the new processes for specific services.
Money can be deposited into Inmate Accounts by visiting www.expressaccount.com or calling 866-422-6833.
Inmate Bonds can be paid by visiting www.expressaccount.com or calling 866-422-6833. Please call the Jail at 989-224-5200 if you have paid the bond using one of these two methods and they can provide you with additional information about the inmate being released.
Sex Offender Registration will be done by appointment only. Please call 989-224-5200 during the hours of 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday or Friday to schedule this.
The drug drop off program in our lobby is suspended at this time.
The Animal Control building will be closed to the public at this time. If you need assistance please contact 911 in an emergency or 989-224-5116 and leave a message for non-emergencies.
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The Clinton County Courthouse was closed to the public starting at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 19. Limited essential services are available by appointment only. Department numbers are available at https://www.clinton-county.org/.
March 20, 2020
Cancelled, Closed, Postponed (Refresh your browser frequently)
Main Street Cafe closed until further notice.
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The Clinton County Arts Gallery is closed except by appointment.
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Special Olympics Michigan has made the decision to extend its postponement of in-person events through May 15, 2020.
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The American Cancer Society has decided to suspend of all events through mid-May. Because of this, and an abundance of caution, Relay For Life is postponing their event to a future date.
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To further protect our staff, Clinton Transit has implemented fare-free trips beginning Thursday, March 19th, 2020. Until further notice, our Bus Operators will not be selling punch cards nor accepting any form of payment. We are committed to help the community contain the spread of COVID-19 while still providing critically essential medical and work trips. Thank you for your help during this challenging time.
In an effort to practice safe social distancing, the Clinton Transit administration building is closed to the public until April 6th, unless otherwise communicated.
The March 26th, 2020 Board of Directors meeting will be held by TELECONFERENCE only. Please call 989-224-8127 for information on how to access this meeting by phone. Thank you for your patience during this time as we strive to slow and prevent the progression of COVID-19.
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St Peter Lutheran Church – Riley
Due to the COVID-19 St. Peter Lutheran Church will cancel Sunday School, Bible Study and Confirmation starting Sunday, March 22nd until further notice.
The following services will continue until further notice: Lent Services, Wednesdays 9:00am and 7:00pm Sunday Worship Service 10:00am
Our Savior Lansing will be streaming their services online for those who are not comfortable attending church services at this time. www.oursaviorlansing.org
Tractor Supply Company has announced new hours. Beginning on Sunday, March 22 store hours will be Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. until further notice.
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The Voice for Clinton County’s Children remains open
– Staff are working remotiely; we ARE available and providing services to Clinton County Children who have experienced neglect, physical abuse, and/or sexual assault.
– Our CAC remains open for Forensic Interviews with appropriate safety precautions.
– Counseling sessions will not be in person and our counselor remains available to support kiddos and families.
– CASA Volunteer Advocates are remaining in contact with their appointed kiddos via technology.
– We have resheduled our Superhero 5K scheduled for April 25 and will soon be communicating our new date.
– In our offices we have implemented ways to control costs during these uncertain times.
– Our regular Board of Directors Meeting will occur via technology.
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Clinton County Recycling and Collection Programs drop off recycling services will be continuing, as usual, for the time being. Per the Centers for Disease Control recommendations, please practice social distancing and hand washing to keep yourself and loved ones safe. Please note the recycling drop off center details below:
Both Rural Recycling Sites – located within the Villages of Fowler and Maple Rapids – 24 hours access but residents MUST properly sort materials. No plastic bags and no tanglers (hoses, string lights, etc.) allowed in containers.
St Johns Lions Club Recycling Site – closing on weekends beginning April 3rd. Will be open to the public from7:00am Monday through 5:00pm Friday. Residents MUST properly sort materials.
Residents are encouraged to contact their municipality directly for additional information on their local recycling services (see attached). Please note, Granger has reported there is currently no disruption or delay in service.
Due to recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and State Of Michigan (SOM) guidelines, our department will be suspending the collection of batteries until the week of April 6th. We will reassess the situation at that time.
Both the April 18th RecycleRama event and the Clinton County April 25 Clean Community Event have been canceled.
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[Published here on February 20, 2020]
Maralyn’s Pet Corner – What Pet Parents Need to Know About the New Coronavirus
courtesy of Jennifer Coates
As with any major health crisis, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about dogs and cats and the new coronavirus (also called the Wuhan coronavirus or 2019-nCoV).
Can pets get this new coronavirus? If so, can they give it to us? And can they get it from us?
Let’s look at what we know and, just as importantly, what we don’t.
Can dogs and cats get the new coronavirus from other animals or from people?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.”
This means that it is very unlikely that dogs and cats can get the virus from people or serve as a source of the infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adds the following:
CDC recommends that people traveling to China avoid animals both live and dead, but there is no reason to think that any animals or pets in the United States might be a source of infection with this new coronavirus.
Could the new coronavirus mutate?
Most viruses can only infect a limited number of species, which is determined in large part by the virus’s ability to recognize receptors on host cells. However, as a group, coronaviruses seem predisposed to mutate and become able to infect new species.
For example, the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus outbreak originated in dromedary camels, and the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus appears to have come from civet cats. Scientists don’t definitively know the source of 2019-nCoV, but research is pointing towards bats as a likely source.
How is this virus different from canine coronavirus and feline coronavirus?
While dogs and cats appear to be unaffected by 2019-nCoV, they do have their own coronaviruses to deal with.
Dogs infected with canine coronavirus typically develop diarrhea. Young puppies are at highest risk, but dogs of all ages usually recover uneventfully on their own or with symptomatic care.
Feline coronavirus also tends to cause mild, self-limiting diarrhea, especially in kittens. In rare cases, however, the virus can go dormant in the cat’s body and later mutate into a new form that causes feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a disease that is almost always fatal.
Neither canine coronavirus nor feline coronavirus can infect people.
Stay informed as we learn more about pets and the new coronavirus
It is important to recognize that viruses are constantly evolving. At this time, 2019-nCoV does not appear to be a problem for dogs and cats, but it’s possible that this could change with future mutations or as our understanding of the virus improves. As history shows, it is also likely that an even newer coronavirus will emerge, which may have the ability to infect companion animals as well as people.
Help prevent the spread of viruses
As always, good hygiene is one of the best defenses against infectious agents of all sorts. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently, especially after being around sick people or handling animals or animal waste. If you or your pet is ill, seek appropriate medical or veterinary attention and follow the doctor’s recommendations when it comes to vaccination and other forms of preventative care.