{"id":16730,"date":"2022-08-18T20:57:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T00:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/?p=16730"},"modified":"2022-08-18T20:57:39","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T00:57:39","slug":"features-232","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=16730","title":{"rendered":"Features"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Grand Mint Parade, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lZ30PsMWdXU\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Hazel Findlay Staff earns Black Belt awards<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hazel Findlay has created a new education program for team members who are motivated, interested and active in problem-solving.<\/p>\n<p>The Black Belt training program was developed by the Administrator (Erica Holman, COO, LNHA, LMSW, CNA), the Director of Nursing, Amy Stoll, RN and the Facility Assistant, Kari Sodman-Orth to enhance staff knowledge and expertise. This in turn promotes  continued success as an organization and further drives the facility&#8217;s mission to help people live to their highest potential as individuals who seek independence, good health, and personal fulfillment. Those completing the course will demonstrate their new abilities by assisting with audits, investigations, and Root Cause Analysis.<\/p>\n<p>The new Black Belts are as follows: Tona Diehl, Hannah Schafer, Toni Gill, Erika Griffin, Sheila Crankshaw, Jody Steffen, Melissa Ardelean, and Amy Wilson. Also awarded were Anita Olney, Shelby Hoffman and Melissa Fellows, who will be joining the leadership team at the Health Care Association of Michigan conference in September to speak about this unique program.<\/p>\n<p>Hazel Findlay honored Carrie Huard for completing the Black Belt Training. Accepting the award on her behalf was her close friend and fellow coworker Bobbi Zruna. Carrie had completed the training before her death earlier this year. It was a poignant moment for staff who continue to honor her memory by providing superior care to our residents.<\/p>\n<p>Hazel Findlay anticipates launching another initiative later this year: A Falls Reduction Training program for enhanced staff training. We are so proud of our Black Belt Honorees and look forward to seeing more Black Belts in the future.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Collaboration to prioritize Traffic Safety in St. Johns Area<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/enforcement.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"327\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16733\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A joint agreement has been established between the St. Johns Police Department<br \/>\n(SJPD), Bingham Township and the Clinton County Sheriff\u2019s Office to improve traffic safety and simplify patrol zones in the greater St. Johns area. The collaboration will allow for cooperative traffic enforcement between the three entities along the following routes:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 M-21 (City limits to US 127)<br \/>\n\u2022 US 127 (M-21 to Kinley Rd)<br \/>\n\u2022 US 127 BR (Kinley Road to city limits)<br \/>\n\u2022 US 127 BR (City limits to Parks Road)<br \/>\n\u2022 Parks Road (US 127 BR to Loomis Road)<br \/>\n\u2022 Loomis Road (Parks Road to city limits)<br \/>\n\u2022 DeWitt Road (Parks Road to Kinley Road)<\/p>\n<p>Travelers will spot new Joint Enforcement Zone signage around these areas which features the logos of both the St. Johns Police Department and the Clinton County Sherriff.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the streamlined routes and operations from this change, City officials hope that the overlap in enforcement zones will calm inbound traffic to the city.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCollaboration is an essential part of keeping our community safe for residents and travelers,\u201d said St. Johns City Manager Dave Kudwa. \u201cTogether, the collaborative patrol and enforcement from city and county officers near our city boundaries will simplify operational logistics and create safer roadways for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The agreement allows SJPD officers to take enforcement action for traffic violations in any of the included areas, but primary enforcement for issues other than traffic violations, including crashes, remains with the county and state. City resources like stationary radar will still be limited to within City boundaries, per requests from both the City Commission and Sheriff\u2019s Offic<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Remember When<\/strong> &#8211; A First Look at the Briggs Library in 1998<br \/>\nby Tim Hulliberger<\/p>\n<p>The timing couldn\u2019t be more perfect.<\/p>\n<p>As the community of St. Johns grows, so too does an institution that is destined to enrich and enhance the lives of its residents.<\/p>\n<p>Renovation efforts got underway recently with the task of transforming the former Clinton Home Center on Railroad Street into a new spacious and sprawling high-tech library facility.<\/p>\n<p>The Briggs Library will become an important partner in today\u2019s information age. It is also a long-awaited reality unfolding before the community\u2019s eyes because of a vision shared amongst its residents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve had such wide community support,\u201d Library Director Christena McKillop said of the 7,000 square-foot facility. \u201cThe new library has really been embraced by the community. It will serve a broad spectrum of people from birth to seniors where the old building couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The present Bement Library \u2013 under 2,000 square-feet on two floors \u2013 has long been deemed inadequate because of serious space limitations not only for patrons, but for displaying up-to-date material as well. The new library is the culmination of a community support drive that began in the early 1990s.<\/p>\n<p>A final obstacle was hurdled last year with a generous sale of the Clinton Home Center by owner Greg Penix, followed by a gift of $100,000 from the Briggs family, and a Library Services Construction Act federal grant worth $170,000. The fruit it will come to bear includes:<\/p>\n<p>* A local history and genealogy room and quiet study area.<br \/>\n* Staff work and lounge area, restroom, and two administrative offices.<br \/>\n* Spacious meeting room capable of seating 25-30 complete with a kitchenette.<br \/>\n* Technical processing area for cataloging, updating patron records, and inter-library loan work along with many other functions.<br \/>\n* Young adult area specifically designed for teens that includes computers and study tables, and an area for leisure reading.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a place our youth can call their own,\u201d said McKillop. \u201cThey have been under-served in this area and they can now come together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>* Children\u2019s area with picture and easy-reader books and beginning reading books for youth up to elementary age.<br \/>\n* Audio visual area with quick access to books on tapes.<br \/>\n* Fully compliant ADA men and women\u2019s restrooms.<br \/>\n* An area consisting of numerous computer work stations and study tables.<br \/>\n* Two adult reading areas \u2013 a reading lounge with large bay window, computers and study tables, and a fiction and magazine area.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe building is going to have nice windows, a lowered white ceiling, reduced-glare lighting, and will be fully painted and carpeted,\u201d said McKillop. An additional 3,000 square-foot warehouse will be used for storage and possibly renovated at a later date.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is going to be a dramatic change for staff and patrons, because for the first time in a very long time all of our collection will be on the same floor,\u201d said McKillop. Oberlin-Irrer of Mason is the general contractor performing the work, currently in the demolition phase of construction. \u201cWe are still on target with an opening date for sometime this summer,\u201d said McKillop.<\/p>\n<p>Work remaining includes heating, plumbing, electrical, dry wall, carpeting and painting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve got a little ways to go still, but the library is going to be something the whole community can be proud of,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Letters<\/strong> &#8211; Kiwanis thanks supporters<\/p>\n<p>To our community of supporters of the Kiwanis Club 707, on behalf of all the members of our club and the community we serve, I would like to thank you for continued support of our club through your support of the Mint Festival and our Kiwanis Peppermint Patty Plop raffle and our Flags over Clinton County fundraisers.<\/p>\n<p>Without your support the work we do in support of many of our community support services would not be possible.<\/p>\n<p>We would like to congratulate our raffle winners: Beth Hamiel of St. Johns, MI; Jon Brook of Elsie, MI; Kristine Maser of Williamston, MI; Charlotte Sheler of St. Johns, MI; Chris Bouck of St. Johns, MI and Laura Smith of Portage, MI.<\/p>\n<p>Again to all of our supporters we say thank you and to those who did not win one of our raffle prizes we again say \u201cthank you\u201d for your support and better luck next year.<\/p>\n<p>Jim Gunther,<br \/>\nPepper Mint Patty Plop Raffle Chairperson<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Maralyn&#8217;s Pet Corner<\/strong> &#8211; Why Is My Dog Peeing in the House?<\/p>\n<p>Your best friend is well past the potty-training stage\u2014maybe several months or even years past\u2014and suddenly starts peeing inside the house.<\/p>\n<p>There can be many different scenarios when it comes to peeing accidents. You may have a young adult dog that\u2019s acting like her usual, playful self with no obvious concerns, but she starts leaving puddles of pee in different areas of the house. Or you may have a senior dog suddenly peeing inside the house, but he\u2019s straining to urinate, and his pee is also bloody.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s explore several behavioral and medical reasons as to why a potty-trained dog would urinate in the house, some common symptoms associated with each issue, and how to address these issues.<\/p>\n<p><em>12 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Suddenly Peeing in the House<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Analyzing the situation and working with your vet can help determine the root cause for your dog\u2019s sudden change in potty behavior.<\/p>\n<p><em>Anxiety\/Fear<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Any dog who is feeling anxious or fearful may have urinary accidents. For some dogs, anxiety may be related to a specific situation, like hearing loud fireworks or dealing with new visitors (whether they are animals or humans). Even for adult dogs, being verbally reprimanded for \u201cbad\u201d behavior can elicit an anxiety\/fear response.<\/p>\n<p>For other dogs, there may be no obvious issue that is causing their anxiety, but they may seem restless, have changes in their appetite, or start panting more than usual.<\/p>\n<p>Your dog may have just one urinary accident when feeling anxious or fearful, or they may have several accidents that occur over a few days.<\/p>\n<p><em>Arthritis<\/em><\/p>\n<p>An older dog who is experiencing discomfort or pain from arthritis can also have urinary accidents. Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints, causes degenerative changes in the joints that can cause pain when your dog is trying to stand up and walk around.<\/p>\n<p>Because of this joint pain, it can be difficult for a dog to get up quickly enough to make it outside to go potty. This joint pain can be so severe that when your dog tries to stand up, they know it will cause them pain, so instead they urinate right where they\u2019re sitting or lying down.<\/p>\n<p><em>Bad Weather<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In young, healthy dogs, bad weather is a common reason to have a urinary accident in the house. From a simple rain shower to a severe thunderstorm or snowstorm, it may be enough for your dog to be reluctant to go potty outside.<\/p>\n<p>Other major weather changes, like extreme heat or cold, can also make your dog not want to go outside to potty. Even a sunny but very windy day can cause hesitation to want to go out to pee.<\/p>\n<p><em>Changes in the Home<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Major and minor changes in the house can sometimes be overlooked as a cause of your dog having urinary accidents.<\/p>\n<p>Major, more obvious changes that can cause urinary accidents include getting a new pet (cat, dog, or any animal in between), a new baby or relative being introduced into the house, bringing in new furniture, rearranging existing furniture, making home renovations, or moving to a new house.<\/p>\n<p>Less obvious, minor changes in the house include having visitors over (furry friends or people) or making changes to your daily routine. Changes in your work or school schedule, or even changing the time of your dog\u2019s daily walk, can lead to urinary accidents.<\/p>\n<p><em>Cognitive Issues<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Elderly dogs with cognitive or neurologic disease may have urinary accidents. Canine cognitive disorder, or \u201cdog dementia,\u201d typically causes confusion and restlessness in senior dogs. The confusion from this disorder can also cause your dog to pee inappropriately. Other neurologic disease in dogs can cause problems with the nerves that control the bladder, which can lead to urinary accidents.<\/p>\n<p><em>Incontinence<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Incontinence is a common issue that can cause urinary accidents in both young and senior dogs.<\/p>\n<p>For young dogs with incontinence, it is often first noticed after they have been fixed (neutered or spayed); however, young intact (not fixed) dogs can also have incontinence problems.<\/p>\n<p>For senior dogs, incontinence typically occurs as they get older, and they don\u2019t always have a history of previous urinary issues. Urinary cancer is a more common finding in senior dogs and can lead to incontinence.<\/p>\n<p>In both young and senior dogs, changes in the pressure of the urethra (the tube where pee comes out), problems with nerve control of the bladder, and genetic changes with the normal anatomy of the urinary system can cause incontinence.<\/p>\n<p><em>Marking<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Urine marking may occur in both young and older dogs. However, urine marking is more common in young, intact dogs\u2014especially male dogs.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes changes in the house can cause urine marking. If a new pet, baby, or piece of furniture is introduced to the house, your dog may mark the spot where the new pet, baby, or furniture has been.<\/p>\n<p>This marking behavior can also be noticed with visitors to your house. Other times, there may be a disturbance outside, like a new neighborhood cat or dog, or wildlife wandering around. In these scenarios, your dog is typically just trying to establish that the house is their territory.<\/p>\n<p><em>Metabolic\/Endocrine\/Other Disease<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Certain drugs (e.g., chronic steroid use or toxin ingestion) along with a wide variety of diseases, such as diabetes, kidney problems, Cushing\u2019s disease (hyperadrenocorticism), liver problems, and prostate problems, can cause urinary accidents in dogs.<\/p>\n<p>With these different diseases, the urinary accidents can happen suddenly or gradually worsen over a period of time. Along with urinary accidents, your dog may also have other symptoms, such as increased thirst, decreased appetite, lethargy, gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea and\/or vomiting), or skin problems.<\/p>\n<p><em>Overexcitement<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While \u201chappy peeing\u201d is more common in puppies, adult dogs can still exhibit this behavior. \u201cHappy peeing\u201d generally occurs when your dog becomes overstimulated with their surroundings.<\/p>\n<p>Examples that may trigger this behavior include greeting your dog when you come home, when a visitor initially comes to your house, when your dog is around other dogs, or when your dog is about to get a tasty treat or favorite toy.<\/p>\n<p>Many times, this behavior is transitory in nature and is not a chronic issue. For some dogs, however, they may have repeated episodes of \u201chappy peeing,\u201d which may occur unexpectedly.<\/p>\n<p><em>Setbacks in Housetraining<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While most dogs are fully potty-trained well before they are considered an adult, it is not uncommon to see setbacks in housetraining that can lead to urinary accidents.<\/p>\n<p>Adult dogs that have been relocated between multiple families and households, especially those from a rescue situation, can have issues with urinary accidents.<\/p>\n<p>Moving to a new apartment or house can cause setbacks in housetraining, especially in younger adult dogs. Introducing a new puppy to your family may also cause your adult dog to revert back to inappropriate habits, like urinating in the house. Any adult dog who is accustomed to going potty on puppy pads can have urinary accidents if you are attempting to transition them to go potty outside.<\/p>\n<p><em>Submissive Urination<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Submissive urination is a common issue in adult dogs. There are a variety of causes for this issue, including dogs rescued from an abusive environment, dogs who live in a multiple-dog household, and even dogs simply responding to cues from their pet parent.<\/p>\n<p>Dogs who have lived in an abusive environment can exhibit submissive urination even with gentle interaction with other dogs and humans. Likewise, dogs in multiple-dog households can display inappropriate urination simply because they are not the alpha dog.<\/p>\n<p>Even if they are the only dog in the house, and they are otherwise happy-go-lucky, they may display submissive urination when you pet them or ask them to sit, lie down, etc. An adult dog may urinate after being verbally reprimanded, which can also be a sign of submissive behavior.<\/p>\n<p><em>Urinary Tract Issues<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A very common reason for an adult dog to have urinary accidents is from a urinary tract infection or urinary tract crystals\/stones. In older dogs, urinary tract cancer in the bladder or in the tubes that carry urine is also a possibility.<\/p>\n<p>These urinary issues often occur with no other underlying medical issue present. A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethra and causes inflammation and pain.<\/p>\n<p>Urinary crystals and stones develop when there are significant changes to the urine pH (how acidic or basic the urine is). Sometimes, a UTI and urine crystals and\/or stones can occur together. The most common symptoms to look for with these urinary tract issues are:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Urinary accidents in the house<br \/>\n&#8211; Straining to pee<br \/>\n&#8211; Urinating more frequently<br \/>\n&#8211; Blood in the urine<br \/>\n&#8211; Odor to the urine<\/p>\n<p><em>How to Stop Your Dog From Peeing in the House<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Figuring out if your best friend has a behavioral or medical issue causing them to pee in the house can be frustrating. Be patient with your dog and do not punish them in any way (yelling, scolding, confining to a crate, hitting, rubbing their nose in the pee, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>These negative responses will not improve the situation, whether it is a behavioral or medical issue, and may actually make the accidents worse.<\/p>\n<p><em>Medical vs. Behavioral<\/em><\/p>\n<p>To help uncover whether the issue is medical or behavioral, there are several things you can check at home in addition to consulting with your dog\u2019s veterinarian.<\/p>\n<p>First, evaluate your home, surrounding environment, and daily schedule\/routine for any specific changes.<\/p>\n<p>Next, evaluate and monitor your dog for any changes. If they are only having urinary accidents in the house but otherwise acting like usual and eating normally, and their urine looks and smells normal, then it is likely a behavioral issue.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, if your dog is having other symptoms along with the urinary accidents and\/or the urine looks or smells different, then it is likely a medical issue.<\/p>\n<p><em>Going to the Vet<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If you think there is a behavioral cause, you can try to increase the number of times your dog goes outside to potty or put down potty pads in the house (especially for senior dogs). You will also need to address the underlying cause to see how you can relieve your dog\u2019s anxiety. Your vet can help you identify the cause and form a plan.<\/p>\n<p>As with many concerns, it is important for your dog to be examined by your primary veterinarian, especially if you are not noticing any improvement with her urinary accidents after evaluating your home and monitoring your dog.<\/p>\n<p>At your dog\u2019s appointment, be ready to provide a detailed history about your dog\u2019s symptoms, including when the symptoms started and any obvious changes to your home or your dog that you are aware of.<\/p>\n<p>Your veterinarian will most likely want to run a urine test to check for obvious issues, like a UTI or urine crystals. If your dog has other symptoms along with urinary accidents, then a full bloodwork panel, abdominal x-rays, and an abdominal ultrasound may be recommended to help determine the cause of the symptoms.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grand Mint Parade, 2022 Hazel Findlay Staff earns Black Belt awards Hazel Findlay has created a new education program for team members who are motivated, interested and active in problem-solving. The Black Belt training program was developed by the Administrator (Erica Holman, COO, LNHA, LMSW, CNA), the Director of Nursing, Amy Stoll, RN and the <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/?p=16730\">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-16730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16730","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=16730"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16730\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/newindy\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}