By N3 Team
So we have restructured Hey, Did You Hear? because fb thought we were being misleading so we will keep trying to come up with a title that works for fb, for us and more importantly for you. Today we discuss skeeter spraying, parades and some other items. We’ll be back in a few days or so with more stuff of interest. See you then. Fremont knows parades. Whether the illuminated wonder that opens their Christmas Stroll the annual NBFF procession or the upcoming Harvest Festival/Homecoming variety the parades in our county’s west central hub are generally a hit and always come with a few surprises. Thursday they will be lining the streets including kids with candy bags in hand and though possibly thinned out a bit by it being a non-election year (is any year truly non election these days?) the bounty should prove to be as abundant as it generally is. The floats have developed more imagination over the years and we are looking forward to what comes down Main this year and one can only hope the lawn mower group returns. We once saw a somewhat similar group called the Lawn Chair Dads in Galena Illinois and it was beyond hilarious with some truly innovative routines. Bonus! For those who have always wanted to check out what it's like to be in a hot air balloon but perhaps possesses a bit of wariness regarding heights? The ReMax balloon will be available for folks to walk in and see what it’s all about without having to battle acrophobia while attempting to maintain a smiling face and some sense of composure because someone bought you the ride and they were really excited about it. Happened once to...uh...a friend. Years ago. Anyway take a look. Northwest corner of Vets Park 7-8pm Thursday. Free but a donation to Love INC is highly encouraged. Spraying on tap for NC. So you say you want to stir up a bit of a buzz about the bees (and butterflies and other pollen carrying beings)? Try telling folks you’re coming in to spray for mosquitos, those pesky little creatures that no one (save bats, martins, swallows and others who use them for dietary purposes) seems to have a lot of love for. In Kalamazoo and Portage enough residents opted out to make the spraying impractical thus it was cancelled. Hereabouts the local social media sites have chimed in (surprise) on the issue because the most southeast section of our county is targeted for a dousing of the skeeter killer. But what about bees and such? The state folks explained the reason for doing it at dusk is that the biters are active and the honey makers are less so. Hmmm. Dilemma. The EEE thing is bad for horses and humans and all creatures who get a dose of it. Spraying is a response to what is viewed as a public health crisis in our fair state. Many folk and especially beekeepers are concerned over how it will affect the pollinators and these days there just doesn’t seem to be a lot of trust out there when it comes to being told something is safe. (see ‘Tale of the Vape’ in our News section). At any rate the spraying is tentatively scheduled for tonight (Tuesday) as we are an ‘alternate site’ per the MDHHS folks-meaning dependent on weather. It will (or won’t because of that weather thing) be coming down in the area of Ensley Township that borders Kent and Montcalm. Those counties will also get a dose in their areas adjoined to us and a few more as well. But it’s raining and storming as we write this so look for another postponement. We’ll try to keep you posted as we get info. In the meantime there is a vaccination for horses that apparently prevents EEE. There’a also one for humans but it’s not available for many of the usual regulatory reasons and presumably not practical. And one can only assume there are likely to be anti-vaxers among the equestrian crowd as there are in the parental realm. Library Speakers We have some very cool libraries around our county and they have been bringing in some intriguing speakers, (as has the museum though the guy from Near North Now was a tad tedious I’ve heard). Next Tuesday proves to be a conundrum for folks intrigued by wartime history because while the White Cloud Community Library is bringing in Joann Puffer the author of ‘Donut Dolly’ about her time in the Red Cross during Vietnam starting at 715, the Fremont branch is offering Gregory Sumner who will riff on our local POW camps during WWII beginning at 7pm. Tough choice. Madame Governor and the Legislature. Budget time. What could go wrong? Apparently plenty. The Guv blames the House and Senate while the solons who prowl the hallways of the capitol building point the finger at her for taking out the veto pen and pushing for further discussion while signing the many budgets presented to her desk. Governor Whitmer: “The legislature is broken. Talking point budgets don’t fix our fundamental problems as a state. The budgets they passed don't do enough to give our schools the resources they need to educate our kids.They won’t protect our communities, ensure clean, safe drinking water in our schools, and they won’t do a damn thing to fix the roads.” From our state rep Scott VanSingel’s fb page: “The Governor's narrative throughout this process was "building bridges" and "working across the aisle." In reality, she walked away from negotiations and left us with no choice but to pass the budgets before year end to avoid a shutdown. I rarely criticize elected officials publicly because I know first-hand how difficult these roles are, however, this leadership style has not been productive and I hope we return to a more civil and functional governing style soon.” Partisanship aside…. Wait. The unfortunate reality is that there is never a time when partisanship is pushed aside. Ever. "By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth."- George Carlin Second Phase of Roadside Drug Testing Pilot Begins Today From the folks at MSP: LANSING- The expanded Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program begins today, Tuesday, Oct. 1, and includes participation from drug recognition experts (DREs) in every Michigan county. Pursuant to Public Act 242 and 243 of 2016, the Michigan State Police (MSP) conducted a one-year Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot program, which concluded in November 2018, in five counties - Berrien, Delta, Kent, St. Clair and Washtenaw. The initial pilot provided valuable data on the performance of the oral fluid test instrument when coupled with law enforcement observed driver behavior and standardized field sobriety tests, but the overall sample size was too small to draw any definitive conclusions on the tool’s usefulness for law enforcement. In their February 2019 report, the Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program Committee recommended expansion of the pilot for an additional year to include all DREs in the state to allow a greater number of police departments to participate and to increase the sample size. “This additional, statewide data will help to determine the usefulness of this tool for law enforcement, as we work to get drug-impaired drivers off Michigan’s roads,” said Lt. Col. Richard Arnold, commander of MSP’s Field Operations Bureau. “Roadside oral fluid testing continues to show promise and by expanding this pilot, we’ll have a larger body of results by which to determine the tool’s effectiveness.” Under the pilot program, a DRE may require a person to submit to a preliminary oral fluid analysis to detect the presence of a controlled substance in the person’s body if they suspect the driver is impaired by drugs. The preliminary oral fluid analysis will be conducted by a DRE on the person’s oral fluid, obtained by mouth swab, and will be administered along with the drug recognition 12-step evaluation currently used by DREs. The oral fluid test instrument tests for the presence of the following drugs: amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabis (delta 9 THC), cocaine, methamphetamines and opiates. Refusal to submit to a preliminary oral fluid analysis upon lawful demand of a police officer is a civil infraction. DREs are police officers who have received highly specified training that allows them to identify drivers impaired by drugs. Although the pilot program is being organized and managed by the MSP, DREs employed by county, township and municipal police agencies are also involved. Over the last several years, Michigan has seen a steady increase in fatal crashes involving drivers impaired by drugs. In 2018, there were 247 drug-involved traffic fatalities. Participating law enforcement agencies include: Adrian Township Police Department Allegan County Sheriff’s Department Alma Department of Public Safety Alpena Police Department Ann Arbor Police Department Auburn Hills Police Department Battle Creek Police Department Bay City Police Department Bay County Sheriff’s Office Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Bloomfield Township Police Department Cadillac Police Department Canton Township Police Department Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Office Chikaming Township Police Department Clawson Police Department Dearborn Police Department Escanaba Department of Public Safety Gogebic County Sheriff’s Office Grand Blanc Township Police Department Grand Haven Department of Public Safety Grand Rapids Police Department Grand Valley State University Police Department Greenville Department of Public Safety Hamburg Township Police Department Imlay City Police Department Ingham County Sheriff’s Office Kalkaska County Sheriff’s Department Kent County Sheriff’s Office Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lapeer Police Department Lincoln Township Police Department Livonia Police Department Macomb County Sheriff’s Department Marquette County Sheriff’s Office Menominee Police Department Michigan State Police Midland Police Department Monroe Department of Public Safety Mt. Pleasant Police Department Muskegon Police Department Novi Police Department Oscoda Township Police Department Petoskey Department of Public Safety Pokagon Tribal Police Port Huron Police Department Roscommon County Sheriff’s Department Southfield Police Department St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Troy Police Department University of Michigan Police Department Washtenaw Co Sheriff’s Office Wayland Police Department Western Michigan University Department of Public Service Ypsilanti Police Department College and Career Night Out 2019 will take place on Tuesday, October 8 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Fremont High School.
This fun, free event is open to all Newaygo County public, homeschool, and private high school students as well as parents, guardians, and adult students. Attendees will explore college and career possibilities and gather information on scholarships and financial aid. The event is hosted by WE CAN! Newaygo County—the local college and career access network—in partnership with Fremont Area Community Foundation. Free pizza will be available from 5-6 p.m. and attendees will be able to meet with college advisors and high school counselors in the cafetorium. Information sessions will begin at 5:30. From 6-7:30 p.m. in the large gym, attendees can meet with representatives from more than 45 colleges, universities, trade schools, career training programs, and military branches. There will be opportunities to learn more about FAFSA, scholarships available through Fremont Area Community Foundation and Gerber Foundation, and other local resources. Information about Early College Newaygo County, the Promise Zone, and the Newaygo County Career-Tech Center will also be available. Three information sessions will be presented during the event, from 5:30-6 p.m. Topics are: Finding Money for College College costs keep rising, but there’s a lot of financial aid out there! Come learn about college affordability options, from federal and state aid to community-based scholarship programs. How to Choose a College Unsure which college to attend? Newaygo County college advisors will lead a discussion to help guide you toward the school and career path that suits you best! Top Ways to Prepare for College While in High School Wondering how you might prepare for your next step after high school? Join this discussion on how to effectively use your time in high school to prepare for higher education and training. Learn about what colleges look for and how you can prepare, starting as early as a freshman, to set yourself up for success in college and beyond. Contact WE CAN! Newaygo County at 231.924.8857 with questions. More information—including a list of schools and job training centers expected to attend the college fair—can be found at facommunityfoundation.org/ccno. Expert on lung disease to speak on vaping at free seminar Oct. 10 Gerber Memorial’s Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies series at Tamarac FREMONT– Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is shining a spotlight on vaping, its risks and what communities should watch out for at a free seminar as state and national leaders take steps to crack down on the practice. The free seminar will be held at Tamarac, 1401 W. Main, Fremont, Thursday October 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A complimentary dinner will be served and the event is open to all members of the community. For more information or to reserve seating, please call 231.924.3073. Shelley Schmidt, MD, a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician with Spectrum Health Medical Group, will talk about how nicotine works and how it affects the brain. Dr. Schmidt will also discuss how tobacco companies target youth while their brain is most susceptible to hardwiring in a lifelong addiction. In addition, Dr. Schmidt will share practical steps to help people who might be addicted. Earlier in September, Michigan became the first state in the nation to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette products under emergency rules Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered in an aggressive attempt to curb youth vaping. The East Lansing Democrat pointed to flavors like apple juice, bubble gum and Nerds in announcing pending rules that will also prohibit “misleading marketing” of vapor products using terms like “clean,” “safe” and “healthy.” Meanwhile, the federal Department of Health and Human Services is also preparing to ban flavored e-cigarettes. Congress has held hearings into deaths blamed on vaping, which has been linked to unexplained illnesses in 46 states and deaths in 10 states. “Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is committed to serving as a resource to our communities on issues that affect local families and our schools, and we’re excited that Dr. Shelley Schmidt can share her expertise on vaping and its impact on the human body,” said Jena Zeerip, Gerber Memorial’s supervisor of community programs. “We invite and encourage everyone in our community to join us for this free seminar so together, we can tackle this public health challenge and help protect our friends and loved ones from the dangers of vaping.” |
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April 2024
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