MMDHD reports first Clinton County COVID-19 death
The Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD) is reporting its first death of a Clinton County resident from COVID-19. The individual was an elderly female with serious underlying health conditions. She was hospitalized at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing and passed away on March 31.
“On behalf of MMDHD, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family. This is a tragic loss of life and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time,” said MMDHD Health Officer Marcus Cheatham.
Currently, MMDHD has a total of 44 positive COVID-19 cases in its jurisdiction: 31 in Clinton County, 10 in Montcalm County and 3 in Gratiot County.
Residents are urged to continue prevention efforts to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Wash hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, cover you nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoid touching your face. Continue to “Stay home, stay safe” and venture out only if it is absolutely necessary to get prescriptions, food or other essential services. If you must go out, stay at least 6 feet away from others.
Everyone should take these precautions and assume potential exposure in public places.
Residents can call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 hotline with questions: 888-535-6136.
While most Mid-Michigan District Health Department staff are working from home, we are still here to serve your needs. For clinic services, please call the appropriate branch office for more information: in Clinton County, call 989-224-2195 (option 5), in Gratiot County, call 989-875-3681 (option 5), and in Montcalm County, call 989-831-5237 (option 5). For Environmental Health services, call the appropriate branch office for more information: in Clinton County, call 989-227-3110; in Gratiot County, call 989-875-1002; and in Montcalm County, call 989-831-3603.
Mid-Michigan District Health Department will provide additional information as it becomes available. Please visit www.mmdhd.org, www.michigan.gov/coronavirus, or www.cdc.gov/COVID-19 for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
St. Johns Middle School doing their part during COVID-19 shutdown
If anyone has a 3D printer and is willing to work with folks at St. Johns Middle School to print N95 face masks, please contact joraer@sjredwings.org.
They are working with the Print Force, spearheaded by tinkrLAB, in Lansing to get N95 face masks to hospitals and first responders.
If you would like to donate filament for printers you can go to Go Fund Me Lansing Print Force.
Support local restaurant employees
Please help support your local restaurants with the purchase of a St. Johns Strong T-Shirt.
The purpose of this fundraiser is to help raise money for the local restaurant employees who have be laid off during this pandemic.
For every shirt ordered and sold, $8.00 of the profit will be donated to the Eat Healthy Eat Local Foundation to support the local waitstaff.
Oder your shirts today! https://stores.inksoft.com/st_johns_strong
Recycling still matters
We are encouraging recyclers to hold on to their recyclables until services resume. This includes bottles & cans covered under the Bottle Bill. These materials, and your programs, are part of a larger supply chain that provide feedstock for a significant number of businesses and organizations, large and small, across the state, and their livelihoods depend on it.
As of this time, curbside recycling collection within Clinton County is going on as normal. Please do not overload your carts and double check your acceptable items lists. It is very important to recycle right and know it before you throw it!
If you must drop off your recyclables, please practice social distancing.
Drop off recycling centers that are still open include:
Granger Recycling Center on Wood Road (517) 372-2800
St Johns Lions Club on Swegles in St Johns – closed on weekends (989) 640-1313
Village of Elsie (for local residents only)
Village of Fowler (for local residents only)
Village of Maple Rapids (for local residents only)
Village of Westphalia (for local residents only)
Don’t see your location on this list? Please call them for details before you make the trip.
PLEASE SORT YOUR RECYCLABLES PROPERLY at these drop off sites. When in doubt, please throw it out. And remember to distance yourself at least six feet from fellow patrons.
Additional resources can always be found by using the Clinton County Waste Wizard search tool. At this time, please always call ahead before you make the trip.
https://www.clinton-county.org/679/Waste-Wizard
Phone County departments
Clinton County Courthouse is closed to the public per State and CDC guidelines. Residents are encouraged to call the department needed for additional information and guidance on how to safely conduct business online or over the phone.
Did you remember to be counted?
Amidst all of the confusion surrounding the COVID-19 shutdown, the April 1 Census Day may have passed unnoticed. While you’re home anyway, why not look up that piece of mail you received that contained your household’s census ID number?
Then take a few minutes to visit https://my2020census.gov/ and complete your census.
An accurate census count helps determine what resources could come to your community through the next decade including federal funding. The census also informs the number of U.S. Congresspeople in a state, and the electoral lines at local, state and federal levels.
Yes, we know that the deadline has been pushed forward; but do it now and avoid the rush.