New protocols to help abused and neglected children to be signed tonight

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

Authorities in Bay and Saginaw Counties are signing a new protocol Thursday night allowing them to better serve victims of child abuse and neglect.

The Child Abuse and Neglect Council, or CAN Council, has rewritten and updated the practices for dealing with child abuse and neglect at all levels.

The CAN Council offers an array of service to help children and families dealing with abuse and neglect.

Cynthia Morley is with the council.

“We offer those services to help through prevention and intervention and also advocacy to help our families and children,” Morley said.

Renewing the protocols allows advocates to re-visit the protocols, updating and adding to them.

Notably, Saginaw County workers are now able to tape interviews with victims and use those tapes in court.

Since 1999 the CAN Council has helped more than six thousand children.

More information about the CAN Council can be found at
cancouncil.org

MHSDA awards $2 million in housing grants

BY JESI MUNGUIA

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority has awarded over $2 million in housing resource fund grants to seven counties and three cities.

Grant money being awarded to Michigan counties and cities will go towards home rehabilitation and emergency repair projects.

According to he state housing authority the projects that stem from the grants will create a positive and sustained community impact.

Patricia Lowrey is the housing director for Antrim County said,in many counties the money will be well spent. “ I think it’s very important, there’s a lot of need out there. All the counties are having backlog, this is my first time I haven’t. They just don’t have enough money to go around so, I think there’s a huge need.”

Antrim county has received $175,000, half of the money will go towards emergency repairs to homes and the other half to  strategically targeted areas.

Other counties being awarded are Emmet, Kalkaska, and Gladwin.

Organizations honor 9/11 victims by volunteering

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

September 11th is a day of remembrance.

For some local volunteers it’s also a day to give back.

Americorps members from Huron Pines along with local Eagle Scouts and community members will take this morning to beautify the ground of Patriot Place, Northern Michigan’s only transitional housing community for veterans.

Volunteers will be building birdhouses and toad houses and removing invasive plant species from the grounds.

Joy Leisen is an Americorps member at Huron Pines.

“We really just want the veterans that are living their to be able to get more enjoyment out of their gardens,” Leisen said.

Volunteers will also be completing a memorial garden on the grounds of Patriot Place.

Any community members wishing to help with effort can arrive at Patriot Place on today at 9 a.m.

More information about the event can be found at huronpines.org

Horses boosting handicapped kids in Chippewa County

BY MARCY MISNER

The 4H horseback riding program for handicapped kids in Chippewa County has a little giddy-up in its step this year, thanks to help from some volunteers and a new partnership with Sault Schools.

Ten students from Sault-area schools took part recently in a 4H horseback riding program for handicapped kids in Chippewa County. The program benefits kids with emotional, physical, and social challenges. School officials said it can help the students maintain skills over the summer months.

Norma Osborn has coordinated the PEP program for the past 40 years.

She said many people have never heard of the nationwide program.

PEP stands for 4H Proud Equestrian Program. She said it also referred to as a therapeutic riding program and a handicapped riding program.

PEP relies on help from volunteers, even down to the location of the program, at a large horse farm in the Sault that’s currently for sale. The owner boards his own horses elsewhere during the program and even barbecues lunch for the volunteers each day.

Horses boosting handicapped kids in Chippewa County

BY MARCY MISNER

The 4H horseback riding program for handicapped kids in Chippewa County has a little giddy-up in its step this year, thanks to help from some volunteers and a new partnership with Sault Schools. 

Ten students from Sault-area schools took part recently in a 4H horseback riding program for handicapped kids in Chippewa County. The program benefits kids with emotional, physical, and social challenges. School officials said it can help the students  maintain skills over the summer months.

Norma Osborn has coordinated the PEP program for the past 40 years. 

She said many people have never heard of the nationwide program.

PEP stands for 4H Proud Equestrian Program. She said it also referred to as a therapeutic riding program and a handicapped riding program.

PEP relies on help from volunteers, even down to the location of the program, at a large horse farm in the Sault that’s currently for sale. The owner boards his own horses elsewhere during the program and even barbecues lunch for the volunteers each day.

CMU students donates over 500 pounds of fresh produce

BY JESI MUNGUIA

The Central Michigan University’s student organization Campus Grow this year is donating more than 500 pounds of fresh organic produce to the community agencies. 

Campus Grow has a garden run by students. The organization began five-years ago when students wanted to have sustainable agriculture around campus and in town. 

Today they have a 6,000 square foot garden, and rent out plots to students and community members.

Courtney Lorenz is a member of Campus Grow and has been gardening for 3 years. She says this is a great way to introduce people to gardening.

“A super cool way for people to get involved in the community you don’t have to be a student it’s open to all community members if you don’t have space in your apartment and want fresh food this is the way to go. People don’t realize how easy it can be to garden once you get the hang of it. It’s really rewarding to get your own food,” Lorenz said.

Lorenz said she currently has 130 tomatoes waiting to ripen in her two plots. 

Local alcohol awareness crusader receives national award

BY AMY ROBINSON

She’s described as a “legend” in the field of alcohol awareness, and this week she’s being honored with a national award.

Penny Norton is the founder and CEO of the group “Facing Alcohol Concerns through Education,” or FACE, located in the small town of Clare.

This week, she received the Lifetime Achievement award from the organization SADD, or Students Against Destructive Decisions.

SADD CEO Penny Wells said Norton and her organization has had a national impact in her efforts to reduce alcohol abuse.

The materials that have come from FACE, the leadership she’s shown from Clare, Michigan, is really remarkable and has been respected to all corners of the United States.

After nearly a quarter century of work, this is apparently the last year for Norton’s organization. 

The FACE website said due to a “prolonged economic downturn” the office will close in January.

CMU volunteers planning trip to tornado ravaged Oklahoma

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

A group of volunteers from mid-Michigan will be travelling to Oklahoma City in August to assist in the cleanup and rebuilding of communities affected by the tornadoes.

A group of about 75 volunteers, mostly CMU students will be spending five days in and around Oklahoma City helping people and communities pick up the pieces scattered by the tornadoes.

The group will be working with The Red Cross and the National Relief Network.

The trip is being planned by Chloe-Angelique Mercer, a CMU student with a long history of volunteer work.

“I’ve actually been involved with a couple of different trips, I’ve gone to VanWorth Ohio, and I helped with post-9-11 cleanup several times, Katrina and a couple other trips,” Mercer said.

This is the first trip Mercer has organized. Originally, the goal for the trip was about 35 volunteers. 

With 75 people planning on going the interest has far exceed the expectation. Now, volunteers will each come up with 500 dollars needed to pay for their expenses on the trip.

Isabella Co. church celebrates flag day

BY JENNIFER WEINGART

Trinity Wesleyan Church in Remus is celebrating Flag Day Friday with a display of more than 60 flags.

Even though the church is a bit out of the way, driving past, there is no way you could miss it.

Around 65 flags flutter in a summer breeze on the front lawn.

Pastor Scott Touzel tells me this is a travelling display called the ‘healing field,’ a place where people can go and remember or pray for those who have given their lives for American freedom.

“They’re set up to honor our veterans, our servicemen, our public servants, somebody has lost a loved one is a war or a conflict they can come and we’ll pray with them. It’s just a time to celebrate our country and give thanks,” Touzel said.

Inside the church there are a few displays containing copies of historical documents and explanations of their significance to America, called the ‘Freedom Shrine.’

This country has been celebrating Flag Day since 1777, and Trinity Wesleyan is one place where the past and the present are being remembered and celebrated.

CMU Police wins trophy for Toys for Tots participation

BY ANTHONY RIZZO

It sure isn’t winter, but the Central Michigan University Police Department is feeling Christmas cheer.

The department’s participation in the annual Toys-for-Tots campaign brought them the 2013 traveling trophy.

CMU Police received the award over other agencies for their significant contributions this past year.

Officer William Martinez has been involved with Toys for Tots for over 20 years. 

“It’s nice winning the trophy, but I feel our biggest reward is knowing that these toys are going to kids that otherwise wouldn’t have a good Christmas. Also knowing a child’s going to wake up and see that there are presents under the tree with their name on it, and they have a big smile,” Martinez said.

Other law enforcement agencies involved were the Michigan State Police, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the Isabella Sheriff’s Department and the Tribal Police Department.