NEWS Briefs

FALL BRUSH PICK-UP - The Village of Chesaning wants to remind residents that the next brush pick up by the Chesaning Village crew will BEGIN Sept. 20. Per village ordinance, brush is not to be placed at the road more than two weeks prior to the beginning of the pickup. Any brush piles already put out, should be pulled back off the right of way. However, Mid Michigan Waste Authority will pick up one bundle (3’ x 4’) of brush with your trash each week. Brush includes branches up to 4 feet in length and at least 2” in diameter. The brush should be bundled with twine for pick up with the trash.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT BIG ROCK – There will be a fun learning experience for 3 year olds at Big Rock Elementary. There are openings for the afternoon class on Fridays. The program helps children grow socially, familiarizes them in a school environment, and helps them have fun along the way. Contact Christl Zachar at (989) 413-0486.

CROP WALK RETURNS OCT. 10 - The 26th Annual Chesaning Area CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Sunday, Oct. 10. Registration will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Dollar General parking lot on Broad Street, with the walk starting at 1:30 p.m. This annual event raises money to fight hunger worldwide and in the local community. The Chesaning Area Emergency Relief (CAER) Center receives 25 percent of the funds raised by walkers and their supporters. Last year, 120 people walked and raised more than $4,000. A special treat from Miss Lexie's Chocolates and Cakes will be awarded to the five-10 person team that raises the most money. The teams must be wearing the same colored shirts to identify themselves as a group. The Brady Wesleyan Praise Team will again provide live music, adding to the event's festive atmosphere. For a pledge form, please contact Chris Mishler at (989) 845-2203 or Carol Somers at (989) 661-2365.

VOTE FOR THE ECOLOGY CLUB – The New Lothrop Ecology Club wants to remind everyone to vote for their project at www.refresheverything. com/newlothropecology every day during the month of August. Interested persons can also vote by texting 101176 to Pepsi (73774).

CHESANING SCHOOL OF CHOICE - Chesaning Union Schools will accept new students for the School of Choice Non-Resident Program for the 2010-2011 school year. Applications may be picked up at Big Rock Elementary, Chesaning Middle School or Chesaning High School beginning Aug. 20, 2010. The application deadline is September 10, 2010. Inquires may be directed to Karen Quaderer at the Chesaning Union Schools Board of Education Office (989) 845- 7020.

CHESANING BLOOD DRIVE – There will be a blood drive on Wednesday, Sept. 1 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Chesaning Seventh Day Adventist Church. Appointments are preferred. For more information call (989) 497-1036 or visit www.miblood.org.

TRASH SERVICE DELAYED FOR HOLIDAY – Solid waste collection services provided to Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) member communities will be delayed one day from their regularly scheduled day due to the Labor Day holiday. Residents should prepare and set out materials one day later than they normally do during the holiday week. Instead of collection running Monday through Friday, it will run Tuesday through Saturday during that week. Among affected communities are: Albee Township, Brady Township, Brant Township, Chapin Township, Chesaning Township and Village, Maple Grove Township, Marion Township, St. Charles Township and Village, and Swan Creek Township.

BIG ROCK OPEN HOUSE – Big Rock Elementary School will be holding an Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Students will be able to tour the building, meet their teachers, and visit their classrooms. Representatives from Nutritional Services, Transportation and the Big Rock Parent Group will be available to answer questions. Class lists will be posted on Monday, Aug. 30. Please call the Big Rock office at (989) 845-2430 for more information or to enroll a new student.

CMS OPEN HOUSE AUG. 31 – Chesaning Middle School will have an Open House for all students on Tuesday, Aug. 31 from 4-6 p.m. At the open house students will have the opportunity to get schedules, meet teachers, try lockers, and tour the building. There will also be a representative from Nutritional Services available for lunch deposits. For questions, please contact Chesaning Middle School at 845-7040.

CHESANING CHAMBER RAFFLE WINNER – The winner of the Chesaning Chamber of Commerce raffle for Wednesday, Aug. 11, was George Larner. Guest drawer was Greg Bruff of Waddell and Reed, Inc.

LIFETOUCH AT CHS SEPT. 14 – Lifetouch is scheduled to be at Chesaning High School on Tuesday, Sept. 14 for school pictures. The high school office has order forms available and they can be picked up prior to school starting or on any school day.

MEDICAL SUPPLIER AT REHMANN H.C. – Tony O'Neill, owner and representative from Impact Medical Supply, will be available on Friday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rehmann Health Center, 147 S. Saginaw St., Chesaning. O'Neill has worked extensively with St. Mary's of Michigan Center of Hope (formerly Health Futures) clinic sites in Saginaw and Chesaning. Impact is a VA-approved vendor. Private consultations that day are on a walk-in basis at no cost. Diabetics on Medicare or Medicaid should check with O'Neill to see if the cost of their shoes would be covered. Other questions regarding the Center of Hope program can be answered by calling (989) 845-3911.

CHESANING CHAMBER RAFFLE WINNER – The winner of the Chesaning Chamber of Commerce raffle for Wednesday, Aug. 25, was Kenneth Hitts. Guest drawer was Chris Wood, Chamber president.

SEC. OF STATE OFFICES CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY – Secretary of State offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6 in observance of Labor Day. Secretary of State Super!Centers which normally offer Saturday hours will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 4. For more information visit the department website at www.Michigan.gov/sos.

KAHN ANNOUNCES OFFICE HOURS -- State Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) will hold office hours with Saginaw County residents on Monday, Aug. 30 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Marion Township Hall, 10925 S. Merrill Road. Deputy Chief of Staff Bill Adams will provide constituents with an opportunity to meet and discuss concerns. For more information, contact Kahn’s office toll-free at 1-866-305-2132.

SIDEWALK GRINDING - On Monday afternoon, Aug. 23, Chesaning Village President/Mayor Joe Sedlar, Jr., Councilman Mike Cicalo, Councilwoman Jenice Deming and Village Administrator Lisa Hitchcock watched the demonstration of cement grinding equipment used to smooth out a sidewalk on Wood Street. After observing the use of two types of equipment, Mayor Sedlar commented that one seemed to be more efficient at carving the cement, while the other did a better job at finishing. The Chesaning Village Council has been attempting to find a more affordable way to deal with sidewalk panels that are lifted by 2” or more, causing a tripping hazard. In many cases, large tree roots are the cause. But they don't want to lose the village's beautiful trees either.

TEACHERS HIRED IN CHESANING - Five new teachers were hired during the Chesaning Union Schools Aug. 24 meeting. Helen Rowe was hired as special education teacher for the high school. Danielle McAllister will teach Fifth Grade at Chesaning Middle School. Danielle Lackie has been hired to teach Middle School Art (80% of full time). Sabrina Boyer will be a Spanish teacher at Hill McCloy High School (80% of full time). Stephan Clark has been named Assistant Principal for Chesaning High School.

ACROSS THE MILES - Montrose has accepted the resignation of Carter Elementary School Parapro Kimberly Smith. According to Superintendent Mark Kleinhans, Smith has been driving 110 miles a day “to teach our kids” in Montrose. She has found a job closer to home. Her resignation was accepted during the Aug. 24 meeting of the Montrose Community Schools Board of Education.

SIGNS CHANGE - No, you're not imagining it. The one way signs for the Carter Elementary School parking lot have been changed to expedite traffic as children are being picked up or dropped off. As a result both driveways on the north side of the parking lot are entrances, the east drive is an exit.

CARTER TAKES READING SERIOUSLY - Carter Elementary School has been designated Title One throughout the school. In a concentrated effort to improve student reading skills, Assistant Principal Rhonda Barber has designated the time 8:20 - 10 a.m. for school-wide reading. Barber will be training teachers in techniques to help students bring their reading skills up.

STORMY WEATHER - Superintendent Mark Kleinhans complimented teacher/coach Denny Reinhart during the Aug. 24 school board meeting. Kleinhans talked about how a storm warning had been sounded during a recent football practice. Knowing football practice was in progress, Kleinhans ran out to bring students inside, only to see 100 kids running to the school at top speed, under Reinhart's direction.

BIG ROCK READY TO ROLL - According to Big Rock Elementary School Principals Colleen Nixon and Jan Krause, the staff has been working all summer. Nixon talked about how well everyone meshed. “It went so smooth. You've got to give them credit,” she commented. The teachers have been off all summer, but as soon as Building & Grounds Director Brian Gross told them their rooms were ready, they were back at the school arranging their rooms, she said, “I was just amazed.” Gross commented, “I can honestly say I can't wait for school to start. The crews did a fantastic job. I'm really proud.” The Big Rock Open House is Wednesday, Sept. 1, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

HERE TO HELP - Chesaning High School Principal Robert Paris announced that the start of this school year will be different at the high school. He's planned to hold an assembly designed to let students know the staff is there to help them succeed. “It takes everyone to get students across the stage [at graduation].”

STC SCHOOLS WELCOMES NEW STAFF – During the Aug. 25 meeting, the St. Charles School board welcomed new staff to the district. The teachers being welcomed to the district or to a new position within the district are Amber McAllister, fifth grade; Jason Dinninger, middle school special education; Alexander Glassier; middle and high school art; Corey DeRop, high school social studies; and Dorthy Switalski, high school business and English teacher. “We are absolutely thrilled with the level of energy and enthusiasm with our new staff,” High School Principal Heather Ballien said.

STC SCHOOL BOARD TURNS DOWN HANDBOOK CHANGES – The St. Charles School Board accepted all the high school handbook revisions except for the suggested changes to the athletic training policy. The new training policy was defeated 4-3 at Wednesday's meeting. The change would have created harsher penalties for athletes possessing or using tobacco, alcohol or drugs out of season. The change would have defined “out of season” as the time period after the last contest in June until fall sports practice begins in August, and would have made offenders ineligible for the first 30 days of the next season. The dissenting board members expressed support for the reasons behind the changes, but questioned policing students 365 days a year and how the changes would be enforced. Other board members reasoned that with summer training, there wasn't an off season and the rules should be enforced all year. The board agreed to discuss the subject further at a later meeting.