{"id":15466,"date":"2022-04-07T20:57:41","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T00:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/?p=15466"},"modified":"2022-04-07T20:57:41","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T00:57:41","slug":"features-213","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=15466","title":{"rendered":"Features"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Lana Hufnagel receives certificate of appreciation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/lana.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"418\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15468\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Lana Hufnagel was lauded recently for facilitating the Alzheimers Association support group of St. Johns at the Pilgrim Methodist Church for the last 20 years. On her last night she was presented with this certificate from the Alzheimers Association.<\/p>\n<p>The community thanks Lana for her many years of support and encouragement and for giving people a place to share, learn and know that as a caregiver, family member or friend they are not alone.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Briggs Library plans for building upgrade<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/libraryupdate.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"321\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15373\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Briggs District Library is getting set to begin a renovation project.<\/p>\n<p>The library moved to its current location 23 years ago. The building was previously a home decorating\/carpet business, and it came with a large amount of attached warehouse space. The warehouse was not needed for the public at the time, but the intention was always to move into that space when the need arose.<\/p>\n<p>The library has maintained its facility over the last two decades, but very few updates or modifications have been made. The community&#8217;s needs, how the space is used and library services themselves have, however, changed. The current facility needs to be adapted to reflect current and future use patterns, to accommodate changing demographics and to be able to better serve the public.<\/p>\n<p>Over the last few years the library staff has been meeting with an architect to discuss patron and staff needs, community use of the building and the results of a patron survey. The highlights of the project include:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; A new 60-person community meeting room\/program space<br \/>\n&#8211; A new designated Children&#8217;s Area in the current warehouse space<br \/>\n&#8211; Moving the main entrance to the east so it will be more accessible<br \/>\n&#8211; Updating the Circulation Desk<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/briggschildren.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15376\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now they are entering the fundraising phase of the project. They are applying for grants, gathering loan information and accepting donations. More information on donor opportunities can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.briggsdistrictlibrary.org\/renovation-project\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><font color=\"#0000CC\">found on the website<\/font><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Survivors need support<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>April 1st marks the start of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the United States. Sexual Assault includes any type of unwanted sexual contact, ranging from sexist attitudes and actions to rape and murder. Forms of sexual violence include rape or sexual assault, child sexual assault and incest, sexual assault by an intimate partner, unwanted sexual contact\/touching, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and trafficking, nonconsensual image sharing, among others.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds, and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child. Meanwhile, only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison. In addition to this, 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, and 3% (1 in 33) of American men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. 9 out of every 10 victims of rape are female, and the majority (55%) of sexual assaults occur at or near the victim&#8217;s home.<\/p>\n<p><em>SafeCenter Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Clinton and Shiawassee Counties <\/em>is the area&#8217;s designated agency for providing advocacy, counseling, awareness, and education to adult and child survivors, and the greater community. SafeCenter staff are on frontlines, offering 24-hour emotional support via the crisis hotline, providing emergency shelter to those actively fleeing dangerous situations, responding to the hospital for domestic and sexual violence emergencies, as well as providing ongoing advocacy\/counseling, and supportive services sessions to adults and children.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, April 23, 2022 you are invited to join with Team SafeCenter in the first ever &#8220;Walk In Their Shoes&#8221; event in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2022. The event will take place from 9:00 am &#8211; 12:00 p.m. at the Riverwalk Loop Trail in Downtown Owosso. Participants may check-in at the parking lot located behind Capital Sports Fieldhouse and are welcome to attend anytime within the three-hour time frame.<\/p>\n<p>This year&#8217;s event provides a unique opportunity for our community to come together and raise awareness about the statistics, causes, effects, and remediations to sexual assault. There is an old saying: &#8220;You can&#8217;t understand another person&#8217;s experience until you&#8217;ve walked a mile in their shoes.&#8221; Along the Riverwalk Loop Trail will be information about sexual assault, as well as affirmations for both survivors and our community as a whole. There will be a separate Foot Race in HEELS at 11:00 a.m. for anyone interested.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Remember When<\/strong> &#8211; Prizes highlight 2013 Annual Chamber Golf Outing<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/golfprizes.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"341\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15470\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Glenn Pung, Chamber Board President with the Chamber\u2019s Brenda Terpening and St. Johns City Manager Dennis LaForest<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual Golf Outing at the Emerald Golf Course just north of St. Johns. The 4-person shotgun start will be at 8:30 am with continental breakfast starting at 7:30 am. The cost for a team of four is $290 and that will include continental breakfast, golf, carts, hotdog at the turn and a steak dinner after the golf.<\/p>\n<p>This year the Chamber has several great prizes to award. Each golfer will be given one door prize ticket and everyone will have the opportunity to purchase additional tickets for more chances to win. Some of the prizes include a Power Washer, Grill, TV, Skil Saw, Canopy and Golf and Casino packages.<br \/>\nIn addition to the prizes, the golfers can have fun on the course with various contests and some Vegas betting on the Par 3 holes. A hole-in-one contest is being held on all of the par-3 holes with a $5000 grand prize on Hole 8.<\/p>\n<p>Major sponsors for the outing include Sparrow Clinton Hospital, C2AE and Firstbank St. Johns. Walmart and Mahle Engine Components are also earlybird double tee sponsors.<\/p>\n<p>Prizes will be awarded to the top men\u2019s, women\u2019s and mixed teams. A traveling trophy and one-year membership dues paid in the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce will also be awarded to the overall top team.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Letters<\/strong> &#8211; Chamber and community remember Brenda Terpening<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/brenda.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"164\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14714\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that the St. Johns Area Chamber of Commerce announces the passing of our friend and longtime community leader, Brenda Terpening.<\/p>\n<p>Brenda made a huge impact in the Chamber of Commerce and had a deep love and compassion for this community. She had a lifelong occupation of volunteering. She was involved with Jaycees and Kiwanis, she helped work and plan the Fantasy Forest at the city park, and served as Chair person for the St. Johns Mint Festival. Brenda also put in countless hours at the Clinton County Senior Center, planning Monday lunches, parties, and sewing crafts for them.<\/p>\n<p>She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and community.<\/p>\n<p>Our condolences and prayers go out to her friends and family members.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; St. Johns Area Chamber of Commerce<\/p>\n<p>******<\/p>\n<p>We extend our sympathies to Brenda&#8217;s family and loved ones. Brenda often invited us to speak about our agency at the Chamber of Commerce lunches.<\/p>\n<p>We appreciated her asking us to become the Toys for Tots Coordinator, and she was helpful during the transition.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you, Brenda, for your many years of service in our community.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Voice for Clinton County&#8217;s Children<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/?p=15430\"><font color=\"#0000CC\">See the full obituary<\/font><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Maralyn&#8217;s Pet Corner<\/strong> &#8211; 9 Reasons Your Dog Has Bad Breath<\/p>\n<p>You may love getting kisses from your dog as a greeting when you get home, except when they\u2019re accompanied by bad breath. Is it normal for a dog\u2019s breath to stink?<\/p>\n<p>Bad dog breath can actually be a sign of a number of health issues, and some that you would never guess could be related to your dog\u2019s breath. Understanding why your dog has bad breath is the first step in appropriately treating not only the smell but the underlying cause.<\/p>\n<p><em>Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In the past 10 years, dental hygiene in dogs has changed from occasional tooth extractions to yearly dental examinations and routine teeth cleaning. Preventative dental care options have become widely available, as well as the knowledge of what a dog\u2019s mouth can tell us about our canine patients. Bad breath has evolved from being a nuisance for pet parents to a veterinarian\u2019s tool for diagnosing certain health issues.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the most common:<\/p>\n<p>Dental or Gum Disease: The most common cause of bad breath (halitosis) in dogs is periodontal disease. Similar to humans, dogs with crowded teeth or crooked, misaligned teeth (malocclusions) may be at a higher risk for secondary dental disease; however, most dogs will develop some tartar or plaque buildup (dental calculus) or gingivitis at some point in their life. Dental disease develops when an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth forms a plaque, which leads to tartar buildup. Tartar can lead to inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). If enough tartar is allowed to build, hair and other debris can get stuck between a dog\u2019s gumline, adding to the development of bad breath.<\/p>\n<p>Something Stuck in Your Dog\u2019s Mouth (bone, stick, foreign body): Dogs fond of chewing on toys, ropes, and sticks are at greater risk of getting foreign material stuck in their mouths. Cloth materials tend to get stuck between the teeth, whereas sticks or other firm material such as chew toys may get wedged in the roof of a dog\u2019s mouth. Some foreign bodies, like splinters, can get stuck under the tongue or in the cheek and may be hard to see. In some circumstances, strings or linear foreign material may get hooked under the tongue, and the bad breath could be accompanied by not eating and vomiting.<\/p>\n<p>Kidney Disease: The kidneys function as the body\u2019s filtration system. When there\u2019s underlying disease or kidney failure that causes the kidneys not to function, a dog may start to build up toxins called urea in their blood. The urea can make a dog\u2019s breath smell like ammonia or urine, which may be an indicator of serious kidney dysfunction. Excessive urea, called uremia, can cause ulceration in the mouth as well, which your vet may see on examination.<\/p>\n<p>Liver Disease: Bad breath along with yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) in conjunction with weight loss, poor appetite, and vomiting may indicate that your dog\u2019s liver may be affected. Along with the kidneys, the liver acts as a filter for the body\u2019s toxins. When there\u2019s a problem with your dog\u2019s liver function, toxins can build, and this can show up as bad breath.<\/p>\n<p>Diabetes: When diabetes becomes unregulated or untreated for a long enough period of time, the body starts breaking down fat, creating molecules called ketones. Dogs that are producing ketones secondary to diabetes may have an acetone or sweet smell to their breath. Dogs with diabetes often have other symptoms such as weight loss, changes in appetite, and increased thirst and urination.<\/p>\n<p>Ate Something Toxic: Certain toxins like plants can cause rancid or a rotting smell in a dog\u2019s breath. Dogs who eat cigarettes may have a nicotine odor to their breath. There are hundreds of toxins present in the environment, and being able to detect what your dog may have been exposed to could help determine the right treatment.<\/p>\n<p>Ate Something Gross (non-food item): Puppies or adolescent dogs may be more inclined to eat feces of other dogs or be curious about what is in the cat\u2019s litter box. Dog breath that smells like fecal matter may be linked to simply eating poop. Alternatively, dogs who eat household objects or toys can develop rotten-smelling breath and may vomit if they aren\u2019t able to digest the foreign material.<\/p>\n<p>Oral Tumors: More common in older animals, the development of oral cancers or tumors can lead to bad breath. As masses grow, they can become infected, and parts of the tissues can start to die (necrose), leading to persistent bad breath despite good dental care. The most common oral tumors in dogs are melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and peripheral odontogenic fibromas.<\/p>\n<p>Dietary Deficiencies: Feeding your dog raw or home-cooked diets may disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in the mouth or gut. Imbalances of bacteria and increased likelihood of Salmonella overgrowth in a dog\u2019s gut caused by raw diets may contribute to bad breath. If you feed your dog a raw or home-cooked diet, try to consult with a veterinary nutritionist (or if not, your regular vet) to help prevent dietary deficiencies.<br \/>\n<em><br \/>\nHow to Get Rid of Your Dog\u2019s Bad Breath<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If your dog has bad breath, your first step is to schedule a dental exam. If you allow a veterinary professional to routinely exam your dog\u2019s mouth, they can detect dental disease and other health issues earlier.<\/p>\n<p>If your dog is prone to periodontal disease, routine cleaning may be needed to help prevent excessive tartar formation and frequent dental extractions (having teeth pulled).<\/p>\n<p>Here are some other ways to improve your dog\u2019s oral health and keep their breath smelling better:<\/p>\n<p>Regular Brushing: Weekly to daily brushing with canine toothpaste and toothbrushes can be the most effective way to prevent plaque formation. Many dog toothpastes are flavored to be enticing to dogs.<\/p>\n<p>Dental Treats and Products: Dental treats can either help physically remove plaque as your dog chews or may contain additives that promote a healthy oral environment. Other products like dental water additives can be used to help mask bad breath as well as promote oral health. These are typically unflavored, and you simply add a small amount to your pet\u2019s water dish each day.<\/p>\n<p>Dental Diets: There are dental diets made for dogs that can help reduce plaque buildup. They use a larger kibble size and a course texture to scrape along the tooth and remove plaque as your dog chews.<\/p>\n<p>The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) can be a useful resource in picking veterinary-recommended dental diets, treats, and supplements that are safe and effective.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lana Hufnagel receives certificate of appreciation Lana Hufnagel was lauded recently for facilitating the Alzheimers Association support group of St. Johns at the Pilgrim Methodist Church for the last 20 years. On her last night she was presented with this certificate from the Alzheimers Association. The community thanks Lana for her many years of support <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=15466\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15466\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}