 Spectrum, Beaumont to create a new system?
From Spectrum Health President and CEO Tina Freese Decker: For decades, Spectrum Health has been committed to our communities to improve health, inspire hope and save lives. We are proud to help you and our community be healthier. Our team of exceptional physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and other care team members are working together to provide you with exceptional and equitable care. We recently announced that we are exploring creating a new health system with Beaumont Health. Our commitment to you and our community remains the same. We will continue to provide exceptional quality care locally and to realize our mission. Your care, your care team and your relationship with us does not change. We believe that Spectrum Health and Beaumont Health, a southeast Michigan-based health system, have complementary strengths that will allow us to accelerate our progress in improving quality, equity, accessibility and affordability, as well as expand our research and academic capabilities. Together, this new health system will:
What does this mean for you today? It is important to note that there will be no change to how you access care. You will continue to receive the same exceptional care you have come to know and expect from Spectrum Health. I am energized by this opportunity to create a brighter future–one that provides accessible, affordable and equitable health care and coverage for people locally and across our state. Thank you for trusting us with your health.
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Help stressed yard trees now and remove egg masses this fall
This is a joint release issued by the Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Gypsy moth caterpillars have been busy this spring in areas across Michigan. As these now large caterpillars near the pupal or cocoon stage, tree defoliation is at its peak. In highly infested areas, the caterpillars’ munching is audible, and round pellets of frass, or waste, rain down throughout the day and night. Oaks, aspens, willows and other host trees may be nearly leafless, or defoliated, by their feeding. The hairy, yellow-faced caterpillars with pairs of red and blue spots down their backs can be found on buildings, vehicles, equipment or anything that’s been outside for a while. Widespread invasive gypsy moth outbreaks in Michigan became apparent in the mid-1980s. Suppression programs in the 1990s and 2000s introduced predators, parasitoids and a fungal disease called Entomophaga maimaiga to aid the naturally occurring nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) in controlling populations. NPV and the fungal disease have important benefits – they are specific to gypsy moth populations and do not affect people, pets or beneficial insects like pollinators or insect predators. In addition, they remain in the environment, continuing to help control gypsy moth populations every year. The fungal disease spreads best in moist springs, so this year’s drought conditions may have slowed its activity. These suppression efforts have continued to keep gypsy moth populations largely in check since the 1990s, naturalizing gypsy moth infestations into Michigan’s forests. Today, gypsy moth outbreaks are cyclical, peaking approximately every seven to 10 years. In these years, the virus and the fungal disease are spread more easily through dense populations, eventually causing a crash. What to do right now After six to eight weeks of feeding, caterpillars build cocoons. This inactive stage should be beginning now in the southern Lower Peninsula and in one to two weeks in the northern Lower Peninsula, providing a natural end to the nuisance. If trees have been defoliated in your yard, water them frequently to help them “re-flush” and produce a second set of leaf buds for the year. Healthy forests will re-flush on their own with little to no long term impacts. Remember, some decline is natural. Removing old or stressed trees from the ecosystem is critical to allow for more vigorous regeneration to take their place. While caterpillars prefer leaves, if forced to, they will eat needles on pines, spruces and other conifers. These trees cannot re-flush, so remove caterpillars when possible to prevent tree loss. The window for effective pesticide application has passed, but if caterpillars remain a nuisance on your property, there are a few inexpensive but effective things you can do to protect individual trees.
What’s next? Approximately two weeks after cocooning, adult gypsy moths will emerge for a short mating cycle. Females are white with brown to black markings and do not fly. Males are gray to brown with dark markings and will fly to locate females. Females produce a single, fuzzy, tan to brown egg mass that can hold over 200 eggs. Egg masses will persist until next spring when the hatch begins. To lessen impacts next year, it is important to look for, remove and destroy egg masses.
To find out more about invasive gypsy moth life stages, identification and management, visit Michigan.gov/Invasives.  Increased vax rates, lower case #'s brings early end to restrictions
With vaccination rates rising daily and COVID cases continuing to plummet Governor Gretvhen Whitmer announced the end to masking and gathering restrictions as of next Tuesday, June 22nd at one minute past midnight. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel issued the Rescission of Emergency Orders today (June 17th) giving the go ahead to increased volume at restaurants, entertainment venues and the many summertime activities and festivals we bipeninsularians love to partake in. The order concluded “Considering the above, and upon the advice of scientific and medical experts, I have concluded that although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute an epidemic in Michigan, certain protective measures and requirements can be lifted at this time.” Some orders will remain in effect to protect vulnerable populations in corrections, long-term care and agriculture. Public health measures will continue for reporting requirements and COVID testing to make sure areas where community spread is high are identified, kids are safe in school and free COVID-19 tests are available. Guidance for keeping children and staff safe in schools will be released next week. MDHHS will continue to provide recommendations to keep residents safe and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in higher risk settings and places where vulnerable populations or populations with large numbers of individuals are not yet fully vaccinated.  Vertina (Tina) Herman has been a mainstay at the County Treasurer’s office assisting county residents seeking information on their tax bills and homesteads as well as being able to point them in the right direction when challenges would arise. Last Wednesday June 9th at the regular meeting of the Newaygo County Board of Commissioners Ms. Herman was recognized for her dedication during her 20+ years of service to the community and the county. Co-workers, family, friends, and others from the community turned out to hear Board Chair Bryan Kolk read the resolution and present her with a plaque commemorating her retirement after which she received a round of applause and personal congratulations from Commissioners.  New policy allows patients up to two visitors
Grand Rapids, Mich., June 16, 2021 – Spectrum Health announces an updated visitor policy for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Under the new policy, patients will be allowed up to two visitors who may be present between the hours of 6:00 am and 9:00 pm. Visitors will be screened for signs of COVID-19 and will be required to adhere to personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. The policy applies to patients hospitalized for the treatment of COVID-19 and to patients hospitalized for other reasons who test COVID-19 positive. From the beginning and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with COVID-19 have not been allowed to have visitors. “We are so pleased this day is here. After careful planning and following CDC guidelines, we are pleased to welcome visitors for COVID-19 patients in a safe manner,” said Darryl Elmouchi, MD, president, Spectrum Health West Michigan. “We know how important this is for our patients and families because it will result in greater physical and emotional support throughout the healing process.” The safety of Spectrum Health’s patients, visitors and staff remains the highest priority. All visitors will be provided instructions and training on the proper usage of PPE, including gowns, gloves, eye protection and standard mask usage. The new policy goes into effect Wednesday, June 16  And some answers to your questions
In response to multiple phone calls to local, county, and state governmental offices, Newaygo County Emergency Services wanted to share the following information obtained from subject matter experts at the MSU Extension Office, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. What you can do now and over the Summer May - August: Wrap trees with sticky barrier bands to trap caterpillars as they move up and down the trunks. https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/gypsymothinwisconsin/making-a-sticky-barrier-band/ *Follow precautions stated in the article to protect your trees from damage. Wrap trees with folded burlap barrier bands to trap the caterpillars: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/ gypsymothinwisconsin/making-a-burlap-barrier-band-trap/ May - August: Manage gypsy moth caterpillars, pupae, and moth populations. - Drop caterpillars into a bucket of soapy water and let sit for 48 hours. (Caution: their hairs can be irritating.) - Spray caterpillars and moths directly with a strong mixture of dish soap and water. (Caution: can make deck surfaces slippery.) - Monitor and maintain barrier bands. Gypsy Moth Facts from the Experts MSU’s Professors of Entomology and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Pesticide & Plant Pest Management Division have shared the following information with the Newaygo County Emergency Services Department: - Some townships assess a millage (an invasive species millage), as do several counties and property owner associations that use funding to address the concern of the day, whether that be gypsy moths or something else. - It is too late to spray using more selective, lower-risk pesticides.? There may be harder chemistries available that could still be effective as the caterpillars get larger, but the window is gone. - There is a good chance populations will collapse this year, but we can’t be sure, and in any case it will likely be location-specific. The very dry spring is not helping matters because the fungus that controls gypsy moth thrives in a wet environment. We’ll know more in late summer when females emerge and begin laying eggs. Wimpy females and small egg masses mean a declining population. - The cost-share program years ago was complicated, but had to be due to federal requirements on threatened & endangered species reviews and the aerial pesticide application requirements, especially safety issues for the applicators flying the planes. The DNR informed our office that gypsy moth populations have been naturalized into Michigan’s landscape. Local outbreaks are normally attributed to drought, old age or stressed trees in general and rarely cause mortality in stands with healthy vigorous trees. In hot, dry weather, water prized trees defoliated by gypsy moth. -Run a sprinkler for about an hour in the morning, soaking the ground under the spread of the branches. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/watering-established-trees-and-shrubs Per the DNR, after a year or two of heavy defoliation, populations tend to collapse on their own with no spray programs in place. Furthermore, large spray programs can cause communities to become reliant on spray programs forcing them to spray more often as they disrupt the “natural” gypsy moth cycle. Why doesn't the County or my Local Township have a Spray Program? The State of Michigan has not funded a gypsy moth spray program, which was a cost share program through MDARD and the Forestry Service, since the early 1990s. Our research shows that some counties are spraying limited areas and using dedicated mileages to do so. The cost as stated below is not conducive to large areas. Based on cost comparables from other jurisdictions who sprayed earlier this year, County Administration calculated that to do the whole county would be over $82 million. 1800 acres or just under 3 sq miles is $250k. Additional Resources Roscommon County does have a Gypsy Moth Suppression Program. It is a millage administered by the MSU Extension Office supported and has been since the federal assistance was eliminated years ago. Their support staff person developed the attached landowner management strategies that outline the life cycle of gypsy moth and provide links to details for burlap banding and duct tape barriers. The DNR and their partners at the MSU Extension also released some valuable information last year regarding gypsy moths: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/gypsy-moth-caterpillars-are-out-and-about. Another link that provides a great place to start is this site: https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/invasive_species/Gypsy-Moth/index. Both of these links to the MSU resources in particular have information on the best way for homeowners to tackle the gypsy moth issue. What if I want to spray my own property? Pesticide applicators licensed in Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1569_16988_35288-11993--,00.html CROP CARE COMPANY LLC, out of SHELBY, MI. 231-861-2210. The substance they use is Bacillus Thuringiensis, used since the 1920’s. If they want to handle it on their own (there is no funding that I am aware of State or Local) here is the info… To address a gypsy moth infestation in a handful of individual trees, homeowners can purchase a spray containing Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a bacterium that naturally occurs in the soil but can be lethal to certain caterpillars and moths. Be sure to follow label directions exactly. The best time to spray is when caterpillars are small, usually through mid-June. When caterpillars are massing, spraying tree trunks with a mixture of dish soap and water or scraping caterpillars into a bucket of soap and water also are effective. Is it possible to buy Btk to spray caterpillars in my own garden? Yes, several commercially available Btk products can be used to control caterpillars on shade trees, fruit trees or plants in the garden. Both liquid formulations and wettable powders are available from local garden stores. Be sure to follow the directions on the label. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/btk-one-management-option-for-gypsy-moth The Btk formulation used for gypsy moth spray programs in Michigan is certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), a national nonprofit organization that approves products for organic growers, as regulated by the USDA National Organic Program. Btk is commonly used by organic gardeners and farmers, as well as some conventional farmers, to control caterpillar pests of fruits and vegetables. To learn more about gypsy moth caterpillars, visit the MSU Extension website. More detailed information is available in this MSUE bulletin that covers the Btk management for gypsy moth. For more information about the DNR’s Forest Health Program or to view last year’s Forest Health Highlights report for Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/ForestHealth. https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79137_79770_79780-499597--,00.html#:~:text=Gypsy%20moths%20are%20an%20invasive,more%20caterpillars%20hatching%20this%20spring
 Jaylee Long, Wyatt Mortensen and Makenna Young are the recipients of the 2021 Newaygo Lions Athletic Boosters club scholarships.
The three graduates completed applications that included describing a history of volunteering in and around the Newaygo community including the school or youth organizations; having achieved at least one varsity letter at Newaygo High School; and demonstrated a positive-impact involvement and/or significant improvement/success in scholarship and community involvement. Their accomplishments include GPA’s of 4.6 for Long and 4.4 for Mortensen and Young. All three were multi-sport participants and had extensive volunteer experience during their HS years. Long will be attending Cornerstone University with an emphasis in education, Mortensen will be going to Kalamazoo College and Young is traveling to Concordia University-Chicago both with an emphasis in Pre-med. Their dedication and lessons in sports and their overall HS experience was expressed in their applications and provided insight as to their successes on the playing field, in the classrooms, and in the community. Jaylee stated that: “ Basketball has shown me that in order to be good and successful I can’t just show up I have to prepare and put time in to be the best I can be. It has also shown me the right way to live my life. Without rules I know I wouldn’t like to play the game of basketball; but the rules make the game more enjoyable and I know in order to have a life I enjoy I need to live by a set of standards; I can’t just go through life without any direction.” Wyatt wrote: “Each person has shown resilience today in this world because of the pandemic. Reaching out for help can be challenging. Resilience is typically viewed as something dramatic and a big obstacle a person overcomes. However, the barrier I had to overcome was simply reaching out for help. Now. I know I can always go to someone and talk about how I was feeling. The biggest impact I learned from sports was not everything is a game. Life is not as easy as making a basket or shooting a goal. Life is about handling the obstacles at hand and overcoming the challenges.” Makenna shared “Track and Field has taught me grit!” She shares her experience after a serious pole-vaulting injury that required months to recover from: “The question that always plagued me was…Would I ever pole vault again? Eventually, I joined a club pole-vaulting team. As I entered the indoor track facility, I wanted to turn around and go home. Walking back towards the track brought back the worst memory I had to mind; all I could hear was the dreaded, echoing sound of ‘snap and pop’. My emotions were so excessive I didn’t know how to cope with them. I couldn’t believe that something I was so passionate about was now my greatest fear. As the coach walked through the double doors and my heart started to pound out of my chest because I knew that practice was about to begin. My body became stiff with fear and I felt paralyzed. I knew that If I wanted to reach my goals, I needed to face this fear. The moment of truth was upon me. I contemplated running toward the door instead of the pit. I stared down the raised track. My hands were sweaty and shaking. The voice in my head heard my ankle saying ‘not to do it’, but my heart was screaming to ‘go for it’. With a deep breath and an inner courage, I sprinted down the runway and took my first jump. I flung over the bar like usual and landed safely with no pain to my ankle. This was the jump I would never forget. It was my jump of courage. The boosters are pleased and proud to award these three outstanding young people the 2021 scholarships of $500 each.  Five Local Entrepreneurs Win Business Capital as Pitch North 2021 Finalists
Five local entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges and an audience of nearly 50 people at the third annual Pitch North competition held Tuesday, June 8th via ZOOM. They were competing for the chance to win over $10,000 in cash and prizes to bring their ideas to life. Pitch North was designed to spark entrepreneurial change and encourage more small businesses to start in Newaygo, Oceana, and Lake counties. Pitch North 2021 received 33 business idea submissions, from which five finalists were selected by a local committee to pitch at the live event. Each entrepreneur had five minutes to present, and judges had an opportunity to ask questions directly following. “When times get tough, entrepreneurs create businesses, and that is exactly what each of the finalists did during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each finalist either came up with their idea, or perfected it over the past year, and they each stepped out of their comfort zone to participate in this competition,” said Julie Burrell, Business Development Manager – Newaygo County, The Right Place, Inc. “They showed their passion for their businesses during their pitches, which earned each of them funding to move their business idea forward.” The first place prize of $4,500 was awarded to Caleb Davis-Dykema, owner of A Garden In The Woods Farm, in Oceana County. Caleb plans to invest his winnings to install a refrigeration station at the farm, extending his shelf-life of products and hire a part time flower harvester. Second place was awarded to Whitney Schornagel with House of Whole in Newaygo County. Whitney is planning to invest in infrastructure which would allow her to increase capacity and expand sales of her cold-pressed juice. . The third place prize went to Eric Carson with Carson Family Beef in Newaygo County, with plans to expand offerings with his newly launched farm stand. In addition to the following cash prizes, each finalist will also receive a complimentary membership to the Lakeshore FabLab: 1st Place: $4,500 Caleb Davis-Dykema, A Garden In The Woods Farm, Oceana County 2nd Place: $2,500 Whitney Schornagel, House of Whole, Newaygo County 3rd Place: $1,500 Eric Carson, Carson Family Beef, Newaygo County 4th Place: $1,000 Emmaline Woodward, Woodline Landscape & Design, Newaygo County 5th Place: $500 Courtney DeGarmo, Courtney’s Canine Creations, Oceana County Marie Elliot, Business Consultant with the Small Business Development Center; Rich Houtteman, Community Affairs Manager for Consumers Energy; Melissa Marietti-Evans, Commercial Lender at Northern Initiatives, Nichole Steel Kleiner, Community & Economic Development Director, City of Hart and Tracy Straight, Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer for Shelby State Bank volunteered as judges for the event. For more information, visit pitchnorth.com or contact Julie Burrell at burrellj@rightplace.org or 231.335.1985 “We are so grateful to our sponsors who, since Pitch North’s inception in 2019, have infused over $27,000 of new business capital into our communities through their generous support of the competition and the 15 new businesses that have launched from it,” added Jodi Nichols, Business Development Coordinator -Lake and Oceana Counties. Pitch North 2021 is hosted by The Right Place, Inc. and made possible through support from The Adama Family Gift Fund, The Fremont Area Community Foundation, Shelby State Bank, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, West Shore Community College, The City of Fremont, The City of Newaygo, The City of Hart, River Country Chamber of Commerce, Gerber Federal Credit Union and the Lakeshore FabLab.  Amazing X Grant Applications Due July 15 The application for grants from the Amazing X Charitable Trust is now open. Completed applications are due July 15. The Amazing X Charitable Trust is a supporting organization of Fremont Area Community Foundation. It was established in 1978 by members of the Gerber family to support community members of varying abilities and to address general charitable needs. Past grants have supported accessibility projects, rehabilitation services, adult day programs, and more. A 2020 grant to Family Health Care supported the organization’s in-home respite care program, while another recent grant supported sensory equipment for Fremont High School students. For more information or to begin an online grant application, visit facommunityfoundation.org/grants. Ice Mountain Grant Applications Due July 15 The application for grants from the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund is now open. Completed applications are due July 15. The Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund was established at Fremont Area Community Foundation in 2002 by what is now BlueTriton Brands. Grants are made from the fund to sustain the waters and water-dependent natural resources of the Muskegon River Watershed by supporting conservation, enhancement, and restoration projects. The fund provides up to $50,000 annually and typical grants are from $5,000 to $20,000. Grant requests are accepted for projects or programs that conserve, enhance, or restore the watershed and demonstrate collaboration among organizations. Past grants have supported erosion control projects, restoration of habitats and natural areas, cleanups, river bank stabilization, research, and more. Grants awarded in 2020 supported hazardous waste collection, a buffer zone project at Sandy Beach, and scanning to preserve septic and well permits. For more information or to begin an online grant application, visit facommunityfoundation.org/icemountain.  Gerber Foundation provides research material for first timers
Thanks to funding from The Gerber Foundation, Family Health Care purchased a supply of the book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting." These books, including some in Spanish, will be distributed to first-time parents of young infants who seek care at Family Health Care's Baldwin, Grant, and White Cloud clinics. The books will provide a resource they can use at home to help with many of the common questions during the first year of an infant's life.  Dry conditions mean fire danger is high or very high across much of northern Michigan
With high temperatures and limited rainfall expected for the next several days, fire danger is high or very high across much of northern Michigan. That means taking precautions to prevent wildfires through the weekend when working or playing outdoors. “With conditions this dry, a lot of different things can set off fires,” said Jeff Vasher, fire specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “A spark from a campfire can do it. Heat from an ORV or equipment can do it. A chain dragging from a trailer can do it, or a downed power line.” Burn permits for yard debris will not be issued in many areas through the weekend; check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit in northern Michigan or contact local municipal or fire authorities in the southern Lower Peninsula. Even if grass is green, it can still be dry and spread fire, Vasher said. Stands of pine trees also are particularly dry, especially in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Within the past week or so, DNR firefighters have responded to fires ranging from a few acres to more than 300 acres. People cause about nine out of 10 wildfires in the state. Since the 2021 season began, DNR firefighters have responded to more than 200 wildland fires with over 2,000 acres burned. Tips to help keep your activities fire-safe Take extra care and precautions with these activities:
For more information on fire management, including fire prevention tips and more, visit Michigan.gov/FireManagement.  ...and staying for a long time N3-We bipeninsularians are well aware that as the weather pattern transforms into the magic of a Michigan summer the landscape comes alive with flowers, greenery, fruits, veggies… And those classic orange barrels announcing the blossoming of road work. And this is a big one with the much needed redos on the main roads to and through Newaygo disrupting the usual travel times and hopefully not putting too much of a pause on the patience of the populace Yes, one can expect tangled traffic and its partner the lengthy wait times designed to discompose drivers. who just want to get from one place to another. Here’s hoping we get through this with our collective good humor intact while continuing the frequent patronage of the enticing array of downtown businesses in our beloved riverside burg. Here’s the skinny from MDOT: Northbound M-37 will be closed from Quarterline Street to Water Street 7 a.m. this Monday through October. Traffic will be detoured on Quarterline, Justice and Water streets. Lane closures will also be in effect on northbound and southbound M-37 between the Muskegon River and the south junction of M-37/M-82. M-82 lane closures will be in place from M-37 to Park Street. Sign up for email from MDOT: http://bit.ly/14ucwY2 ESTIMATED END DATE: Late October 2021 PROJECT DETAILS: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is investing $3.4 million to improve approximately 2 miles of M-37/M-82 from the Muskegon River to the M-37/M-82 south junction in the city of Newaygo. M-82 will also be resurfaced from M-37 to just east of Park Street. Work includes rebuilding, resurfacing, new watermain, drainage improvements, sidewalk work, and traffic signal modernization at Quarterline Street. TRAFFIC IMPACT: Lane closures and traffic shifts will be in effect throughout the project. Northbound traffic will be detoured onto Quarterline, Justice and Water streets. SAFETY BENEFITS: Long-term benefits include improvements to vehicle safety and operations, as well as extending the service life of the roadway and utilities. Follow MDOT's Grand Region on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/MDOT_West For up-to-date information on this project and others, go to the list of statewide lane closures at: www.michigan.gov/drive. Follow MDOT at www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT or www.facebook.com/MichiganDOT “And sure enough, even waiting will end...if you can just wait long enough.”- William Faulkner   Katrina Luchies earns GFCU promotion FREMONT, Mich. Gerber Federal Credit Union announced the promotion of Katrina Luchies to Member Solutions Manager. Ms. Luchies joined the credit union as a Member Service Representative in 2020. She will lead the member solutions department responsible for loss prevention and collection functions. Luchies has volunteered for Walk for Warmth, Newaygo Public Schools and various fundraising events for local families in need. She holds certifications in Leadership, Interpersonal Skills, Understanding Poverty, and Communication. “I am very pleased to announce Katrina’s promotion. She has shown herself to be a tireless advocate for our members since joining us last summer. Her background and attitude will be invaluable in helping those members most in need. Congratulations!” said John P. Buckley, Jr., Gerber FCU President/CEO.  From Newaygo County Drain Commissioner Dale Twing:
We are experiencing very low levels in all of our county lakes as well as in those throughout the state. Even the rivers are extremely low. As Drain Commissioner I am in charge of seven legally established lake levels. Three of these have different seasonal levels and we take boards in and out of a dam structure to make this change. These are engineered to coincide with the levels that have been established by court order. These are consistently done on the established dates. The reason that lakes are low and yet water still flows over the dam is because evaporation and the lack of incoming water aren’t in balance. No dam is usually intended to totally stop the discharge of water. Most lakes are part of a bigger watershed and the people downstream need water also. The current drought is an issue that everyone is currently dealing with and only Mother Nature can solve.  Randall Foods Inc. Initiates Voluntary Recall of All Randall Beans From our friends at MDARD: Randall Foods, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio is recalling all its Randall-brand beans because of manufacturing deviations that may pose a potential health risk. The recall includes the following products:  The product is sold in 48oz, 24oz, and 15.4oz glass jars with tan labels with “Randall” at the label top. Approximately 1.6 million cases of affected products were distributed between March 1, 2019 and May 15, 2021 at retail locations in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The manufacturing deviations included a nonfunctioning temperature indicating device raising the possibility that the product was not effectively processed. Processing at temperatures below a required temperature could create a condition that could lead to premature spoilage or food borne illness; however, there have been no illnesses reported. The company is issuing this voluntary recall as a precaution. Consumers who have purchased jars of Randall-brand beans, regardless of the “Best By” date, should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company between 9 am and 5 pm at 513-793-6525.   Move back to Phase 2 began Monday
From our friends at the Newaygo County Courts: NEWAYGO COUNTY – The Newaygo County Courthouse has re-entered Phase 2 as of Monday, May 24, 2021. This means that the Trial Courts will be able to facilitate a limited number of in person hearings as approved by the presiding and Chief Judge in addition to the emergency and/or essential hearings services being conducted in Phase 1. Jury trials may also be conducted if the Trial Courts meet additional metrics to do so safely in the community. If your business with the court can be handled via phone, fax, mail, or email, please continue to use those methods before coming to the courthouse. The public will be permitted into the building for in-person emergency and essential hearings, hearings where litigants have right to be present, or for limited in-person hearings approved by the presiding and Chief Judge. Emergency or essential functions involve the health, safety and Constitutional rights of the citizens of Newaygo County. If you make a visit to the Courthouse during this time staff may inquire about your business and provide guidance to limit exposures within the courthouse. Visitors to the Newaygo County Courthouse will continue to have a health screening including a temperature assessment. Staff and visitors will wear masks in the building and adhere to six-foot social distancing. It is important to note that although other restrictions may be lessening in the community that the Supreme Court and State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) take the health and safety of the public seriously and will continue to keep protective measures in place at this time. All hearings that are not emergencies, essential, previously approved by judges, or where litigants have the right to be present will be conducted remotely via Zoom or teleconference as directed. It is preferred that filings be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the courthouse whenever possible. Please feel free to use the drop box as you enter the courthouse for non-emergency filings. The appropriate court may be contacted with the information below if you have questions about filing paperwork or appearing remotely for a hearing. Court sessions will continue to be livestreamed via YouTube to provide public access. Please visit the recently updated newaygocountymi.gov website under the court tabs for more information about COVID 19 and viewing YouTube. Please see the complete Local Administrative Order for Phase 2 for further details!: https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Phase-2-5.24.21-FINAL-Signed.pdf Circuit Court Email: wjarvis@co.newaygo.mi.us or circuitcourt@newaygo.mi.us Phone: (231) 689-7251 Main Phone: (231) 689-7252 Fax: (231) 689-7015 District Court Email: dmr@co.newaygo.mi.us Phone: (231) 689-7228 Main Phone: (231) 689-7257 Fax (231) 689-7258 Probate Court Email: c2762nmp@co.newaygo.mi.us Phone: (231) 689-7274 Main: (231) 689-7270 Fax: (231) 689-7276 The Newaygo County Courthouse and its staff hopes to return to Phase 3 soon where we can continue to safely expand public access. Hon. Robert D. Springstead Chief Judge Circuit Court Judge Newaygo County Trial Courts  DHD#10 crew at a recent clinic during Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day DHD#10 hosting numerous off-site COVID-19 vaccine clinics
Public welcome, no appointment necessary May 25, 2021 – Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available, District Health Department #10 is bringing it to the community through off-site vaccine clinics. You do not need an appointment – just walk in to any clinic to receive your vaccine. All clinics will have Pfizer for 12 and older and most will have Johnson & Johnson and Moderna for 18 and older. The following counties currently have off-site COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled: NEWAYGO Wednesday, May 26, June 9, June 30, 9:00AM-12:00PM – TrueNorth Food Distribution, Fremont CRAWFORD Wednesday, May 26, 2:00-7:00PM - Grayling High School Activity Center, Grayling Wednesday, June 2, 2:00-7:00PM - Grayling Middle School Gymnasium, Grayling LAKE Wednesday, May 26, 12:00-5:00PM - Baldwin Community School Library, Baldwin Wednesday, June 2, 11:00AM-3:00PM - Bread of Life Food Pantry, Baldwin MANISTEE Tuesday, May 25, 1:00-3:00PM - Century Terrace/Harborview Apartments, Manistee Wednesday, May 26, 10:00AM-6:30PM – Little River Casino Resort, Manistee MASON Wednesday, June 2, 2:0-6:00PM – Ludington High School, Ludington Wednesday, June 9, 12:00-2:00PM – Caritas Food Pantry, Custer Wednesday, June 23, 9:00AM-12:00PM – Mason County District Library, Ludington OCEANA Wednesday, June 2, 12:00-5:00PM – Pentwater Public School Cafeteria, Pentwater Tuesday, June 22, July 13, August 10, 4:00-7:00PM – New Era Farmer’s Market, New Era WEXFORD Monday, May 31, 4:00-6:00PM – Cadillac News Track & Field Invitational, Cadillac Thursday, June 3, 3:00-5:00PM – United Methodist Church, Cadillac Wednesday, June 9, 10:00PM-1:00pm – Harbor View Apartments, Cadillac Friday, July 16, 5:00-7:00PM – Manton Truck Show, Manton More off-site vaccine clinics will be added and announced each week.  A man was shot and killed by Michigan State Police troopers in Beaver Township Saturday morning It happened at a property on West 10 Mile Road at Comstock Avenue between Hesperia and Bitely.
Two Michigan State Police troopers were called there around 8:50 a.m. for a report of a domestic disturbance. MSP says an armed man confronted the troopers, after which shots were fired. The man was killed. His name has not been released.  Olivia Smith of Hesperia receives her second COVID-19 vaccination on Thursday, May 20, at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial. Sonya Ream, RN, administers the Moderna vaccine, Gerber Memorial’s 5,000th dose Gerber Memorial celebrates 5,000th dose of COVID-19 vaccine Fremont, Mich., May 21, 2021 – For Olivia Smith of Hesperia, the COVID-19 was about protecting herself and, just as importantly, her family. So, when she showed up at Gerber Memorial’s community vaccine clinic above the Multispecialty Clinic on Thursday, May 20, she thought she’d go in for her second shot and head home. She didn’t think she’d spend her 15 minutes of observation for any adverse effects eating cake and helping Gerber Memorial’s vaccination team celebrate a landmark occasion. Smith was the recipient of the 5,000th dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Gerber memorial since the hospital began vaccinating staff and community members on Dec. 23, 2020. “I’m doing this for my family,” Smith said. “I live at home and I have a few people in my family who have auto-immune deficiencies, so I want to make sure they’re safe.” Nurse Sonya Ream, RN, who administered the dose for Smith, joined her for cake during her observation, when people who have just been vaccinated are monitored for adverse side effects. “How did you handle the first shot?” Ream asked Smith earlier as she was preparing to vaccinate her. “I think I barely had any side effects at all,” Smith, 25, said. The Gerber Memorial team celebrated the milestone as a show of gratitude to all the people who have been vaccinated so far – and who choose to do so in the near future.  Gerber Memorial’s vaccine team celebrate the hospital’s 5,000th COVID-19 vaccine dose with recipient Olivia Smith of Hesperia.  Sealed Bids for the High School Entry Drive Improvement Project Fremont Public Schools will be received by Fremont Public Schools at the Administration Building, 450 East Pine Street, Fremont, Michigan 49412, Tuesday, June 8, 2021 until 2:00 p.m., local time. Bids received after that time will be returned unopened. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud at the Central Administration Building. All bids submitted shall be from a prime bidder only and shall include all subcontractor costs for scopes identified in the contract documents. Owner is exempt from Michigan use and sales tax. This project does not require prevailing wages. Bidding and Contract Documents will be available from Kingscott Associates, Inc. on Thursday, May 20, 2021 on the Kingscott ShareFile site. For access to the Kingscott ShareFile site, please contact Lisa Dailey at ldailey@kingscott.com. No printed sets of contract documents will be issued; however, the electronic files may be reproduced for bidding purposes by the bidder and at the bidder’s expense. The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to waive any irregularities in bidding and to refrain from accepting or rejecting any bids for a period of thirty (30) days after the bid opening. The project scope of work includes (but not limited to) the following: 1. Pavement Removal 2. Machine Grading 3. Bituminous Paving  Gov announces all capacity restrictions end July 1
Lansing, May 20-Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that as of June 1, capacity limits will lift for outdoor events. Additionally, indoor capacity limits will increase to 50%, allowing indoor social gatherings such as weddings and funerals to move closer to normalcy. As of July 1, the state will no longer limit capacity at indoor or outdoor gatherings. To reflect these changes, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), will release an updated epidemic order on Monday. Throughout the month of June, people who are not yet fully vaccinated will still be required to mask up while indoors. “Starting June 1st, we will be moving forward, faster than expected, towards a return to normalcy,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer in making the announcement. “ Soon, Michiganders will be able to celebrate together, have summer weddings and even enjoy a 4th of July barbeque with family and friends. This is what we have all been working so hard towards, and I am so grateful to every Michigander who continues to go above and beyond to keep themselves, their family, and our communities safe. Thanks to them, we can take these final steps towards a return to the normalcy and build our economy back stronger than ever.”  From our friends at the NCSO On May 19, 2021 at approximately 2:10 pm the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist Newaygo County Child Protective Services (CPS) with a child removal at 6396 N Stone Rd in Beaver Township. When the Deputy arrived on scene with CPS, the father, a 32 year old from Bitely, refused to let go of a 6-day old infant. After pleading with the father to turn the infant over to her or CPS the father still refused. The father then made threats towards law enforcement and the infant of getting a knife. The Deputy was able to talk with the father until backup officers arrived on scene. Once backup officers arrived on scene the father turned the infant over to police and refused officers commands to get on the ground. The father physically resisted officers and their commands to stop resisting. The father was eventually tased and placed in custody. As a result of the physical altercation, the father along with law enforcement sustained minor injuries. The 32 year old male from Bitely, was lodged at the Newaygo County Jail on charges of Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer. All names are being withheld pending formal arraignment at the 78th District Court. Deputies were assisted on scene by White Cloud Police Department, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and LifeEMS.  For the 68th-consecutive year The Gerber Foundation has provided scholarships to local graduating seniors to support their respective college educations. This year The Gerber Foundation awarded 79 scholarships to students from Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties. Below is the 2021 class of students who will receive scholarships: Daniel Gerber Sr., Medallion Scholarships (worth $10,600 ea) Fremont HS: Braden DeWeerd, Caden Christoffersen, Jackson Fair, Kylei Beecham, Nathan Walker Grant HS: Alexis Bazzett, Carter Cole, Emma Hetler, Emme Losee, Samantha Wolff Hesperia HS: Delaney Yates, Kyra Sayer, Madeline O'Neil, Sierra Cechura Newaygo HS: Alexis Feutz, Hudson Harkness, Kendall Mathis, Lillian Ruehmeier, Makenna Young White Cloud HS: Kathryn Fiala, Cassandra Watson, Parker Karnes, Janessa Shepard Newaygo Home School: Zeb Oatis The Gerber Foundation Merit Scholarships (worth $2,600 ea) Fremont HS: Benjamin Paige, Colton Isenhart, Devin Poll, Jaxon Deur, Jennifer Chrysler, Mikayla Slovinski, Weston Slate Hart HS: Spencer R Zwaag, Justin Hernandez, Daniela Estrada, Alex Enns, Rece Schlukebir, Thomas Tanner Hesperia HS: Gabriel Prado, McKenna LaCount, Steven Brown Muskegon HS Gilvonna Agnew, Tyreese Oakes, Jada Lenoir Newaygo HS: Ethan Riley, Amaya Nelson, Ariana Hunt, David Yoder, Haley Stefans Ravenna HS: Tori Woodwyk, Branden Varso Shelby HS: Griffin McFarlin-Fraass, Roberto Luna, Nadia Millan, Lindsey Harvell, Jazmin Hekkema, Alexis Hoeksema White Cloud HS: Alexis Strait, Alexus Richmond, Rylee Hewitt, Samuel Venema The Gerber Foundation Newaygo County Career Tech Center Scholarships (worth varied amounts) Cayla Ekkel (Agriscience); Tarrence Ferriby, Ann Bogen (Automotive Technology); Merci Fitz, Kenneth Bull (Business Applied Technology); Cameron Wolters, Nate Frey (Construction Trades); Alyssa Kolehouse, Hannah Tindall (Cosmetology); Olivia Lacy (Criminal Justice); Andrew Berwald, Tommy Maurer (Engineering/Manufacturing); Madison Salacina, Jonathin Mandeville (Future Educators); Heather Grveles (Health Sciences); Bradley Garbrecht (Heavy Equipment Technology); Nathaniel Sherman (Information Technology); Joel Luchies, Stephen Miller (Welding). Congratulations to our scholarship recipients of 2021!  |
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