 Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler, Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn, Capt. David Malloch Conservation officer’s lifesaving efforts at Newaygo motel earn fourth DNR honor
Michigan Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn’s actions last year to resuscitate a man in a Newaygo motel were recognized with a Department of Natural Resources Lifesaving Award – his fourth such honor. Ginn was presented with the award at the October Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing. Nov. 13, Ginn responded to a medical emergency involving a 75-year-old man who was reported unresponsive at Cronk’s Oakridge Motel, located at 9135 Mason Drive in Newaygo. Within four minutes of receiving the call, Ginn arrived at the scene and evaluated the man, who did not have a pulse and was not breathing. Ginn moved the victim to the ground so he could use his department-issued automatic external defibrillator – a portable medical device that analyzes the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, automatically delivers an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart restore an effective rhythm. The AED delivered one shock to the victim and then advised Ginn to deliver chest compressions. Ginn performed chest compressions until paramedics with Life EMS of Newaygo County arrived. While paramedics provided care to the victim, Ginn continued chest compressions. The AED reanalyzed the victim and administered another shock. First responders continued to care for the patient while they prepared to transport him by ambulance to a hospital in Grand Rapids. While en route to the hospital, he regained his pulse. One day after the incident, the man was conscious with full neurological function. “Jeff’s help gave this patient a fighting chance of survival,” said Jason Best, field supervisor at Life EMS of Newaygo County. “It is very nice to have this compassion and helpfulness in a rural county where help is limited.” Conservation officers live in the communities that they serve and often are the first emergency responder to arrive at a scene. “I’m honored to recognize Conservation Officer Jeff Ginn for providing lifesaving care to this man,” said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “His fast response and training that helped save this man’s life are excellent examples of what a conservation officer is capable of. You never know when an emergency is going to arise, and we are prepared to serve our communities.” Ginn has been a conservation officer with the DNR since 2006 and patrols Newaygo County. His earlier lifesaving actions include:
Apply now for the next Conservation Officer Academy Those interested in pursuing a career as a Michigan conservation officer are encouraged to submit an application for the DNR’s 10th conservation officer academy, which will begin July 12, 2020, in Lansing. Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect the public by performing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. These officers undergo extensive search and rescue training to locate missing persons and have specialized equipment to navigate rural and difficult terrain. Learn more about conservation officers and the hiring process and qualifications at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.
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 Anchor home gets new driveway, walkway. Hope 101 Ministry Inc. of Newaygo has received a $4,712 grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund. The grant has been used to remove broken, sunken concrete, replace sidewalks and enlarge the driveway at Anchor Home, Hope 101’s three-unit apartment home on Quarterline in Newaygo. The new driveway and sidewalks have improved the appearance of the home and the neighborhood. The cement work by AAA Concrete has provided more off-street parking and eliminated muddy and icy areas, which have been a hazard for Hope 101 program participants. The Hope 101 Ministry Board appreciates members of Great Lakes Energy who support the People Fund by voluntarily rounding up their bills to the next highest dollar. The rounded up amount, which averages $.50 a month per bill, is distributed to non-profit organizations and charitable activities that benefit people in communities served by the cooperative. The People Fund has awarded over $3.3 million to local charitable groups since 1999. Persons who belong to the Great Lakes Energy Cooperative are encouraged to participate in this program of community support. Contact Great Lakes Energy at 888-GT-LAKES or visit gtlakes.com for more information. Hope 101 Ministry is a transitional program providing housing to persons who are homeless while they work to become self-sufficient. The participants pay a program fee to live in the home. They must be employed, follow program rules, set goals, and work on them weekly. The program provides a case manager and mentors to support participants. In addition to Anchor Home, Hope 101 Ministry owns Mercer Home on W. Washington in Newaygo, which provides housing for a family with children. Hope 101 Ministry was started by Family of God Community Church in Newaygo in 2015 but became an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2018. Grants and donations from churches, individuals, and businesses support the ministry financially. Volunteers from the community are always needed to serve as mentors, members of committees or the Hope 101 Board, and to help prepare units for participants, to do handyman jobs and landscaping. Interested in volunteering? Please call 231-652-1056 for more information. Persons who would like more information about program participation can go to the web page www.hope101ministry.com, call 231-245-8877, or email [email protected].  Old medications? Drop-off event across Newaygo County on Oct. 26
FREMONT – Got old, expired and unused prescription medications lying around? The public is invited to dispose of unwanted medications at locations throughout Newaygo County on Oct. 26. The sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The locations are:
Organized by the Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network, the drop-off event includes partnerships with Headway Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Department. “These drop-off sites are a good way for people to safely dispose of medications that can’t be used anymore, and we encourage everyone in our community to visit our five locations,” said Rachel Uganski of the Headway Coalition. “Our drop-off events are also a good time to educate people about the potential and the dangers of misusing medications.” Jena Zeerip, supervisor of community programs at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial and chair of the prescription drug action team at Headway, said: “By safely and responsibly getting rid of unused medications, we can better remove drugs from our homes that are at risk of getting in the hands of children and individuals who could potentially misuse them.” While Michigan saw a 25-percent decline in the number of opioid prescriptions between 2013-2017, the most recent year for available data, the number of deaths more than doubled in that time span to 2,033 in 2017, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse. |
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