NEWS BRIEFS

OUR LADY OPEN HOUSE — Our Lady School at 802 Lockwood in Chesaning is holding an Open House and registration on Monday, March 8, from 6:30 - 8 p. m. during their Family Reading Night. Pre- School information will be given by Shari Gewirtz between 6 and 7 p. m. Pre-Schoolers are also invited to attend Monday, March 8 from 9 - 10:30 a. m. , when they will be able to observe and participate in an actual classroom. For more information call the office at 989-845-6338.

STC HIGH SCHOOL PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES — Parent-Teacher conferences at St. Charles High School will be held on Wednesday, March 10 from 3:30 to 7:30 p. m. in the high school gym, and Thursday, March 11 from 3:30 to 6:30 p. m. in the high school gym.

CEMETERY EXPANSION – The Montrose Township Board has awarded Powell Land Surveying PC of Montrose the contract to survey the expansion of the Montrose Cemetery. According to Montrose Township Supervisor Mark Emmendorfer, the plan is to have Powell lay out another section on the east side. Powell had submitted the low bid for the project.

NL FFA LABOR AUCTION – The Annual New Lothrop FFA Labor Auction will be held at New Lothrop High School on Wednesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.Buyer numbers will be available starting at 6:30 p.m.Glardon Auction Services will be on hand to provide professional auctioneering. New Lothrop FFA members will provide eight hours of labor to the highest bidder.For more information, or those who are interested in making a bid and are unable to attend, please contact New Lothrop FFA Advisor Margaret Bandkau at (810) 638- 5054 or MBandkau@newlothrop.k12.mi.us.

UNITED APPEAL EXPO WINNERS - The Chesaning United Appeal Chesaning Business Expo winners are: first place, Madonna Bueche, of Chesaning, a Victory Therapy massage; second place, Jolan Jackson, of St. Charles, $30 Chesaning Chamber Gift Certificate; third place, Julie Santrucek, of Owosso, $20 Chesaning Chamber Gift Certificate. Prizes were provided by the Chesaning United Appeal board members.

STC CHAMBER RAFFLE WINNER – The winner of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce raffle for March 3 was Mary Beth Davenport, of Chesaning.

PASSPORT DAY AT POST OFFICE – The Chesaning Post Office will be hosting Passport Day in the USA 2010 on Saturday, march 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interested persons can learn more about travel requirements for U.S. Citizens or apply for a U.S. passport. For those who cannot make Passport Day, the Post Office does passports every day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For passport information, fees and forms, visit www.Travel.State.gov.

ASHLEY KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP – The Ashley Community Schools Kindergarten Round-up will take place on Monday, March 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Children should be 5 years old before December 1, 2010 in order to attend kindergarten next fall. The district is planning now for next year’s kindergarten, so please call (989) 847-2102 to set up an appointment for the round-up.

KC RAFFLE WINNERS – The winners of the Chesaning Knights of Columbus raffle for March are Brenda Birchmeier, of New Lothrop, Eugene Ruhl, of Chesaning, Lana M. Robinette, of Chesaning, and Kraig Vincke, of Chesaning.

MAIER CHALLENGES A+ RATING - Chesaning Union Schools Trustee Martin Maier challenges assertions that Superintendent Donald Barnes has unanimously exceeded expectation or earned an A+ rating. During a recent visit to the Citizen, Maier identified the library issue and the school closings as areas where Barnes did not meet his expectations. Maier conceded that Barnes had been influenced by board members with regard to the Chesaning Public Library issue. “No one deserves an A+,” Maier stated, explaining that he feels there is always room for improvement. He said that since the board did not issue a grade for Barnes, he declined to set a grade.

STILL TIME FOR SHEILA’S KIDS – So far, 190 “Sheila’s Kids” message of love shirts have already been sold, raising $1,800 to provide technology upgrades for Big Rock School. Zach Chludil has led this effort in his mother’s memory. There is still time to purchase shirts through local Chesaning businesses: Rehmann’s, Gewirtz Hardware, Riverfront Restaurant, Schultz Pharmacy, Broad Street Pharmacy, True Touch Therapeutics, Full Moon Fitness & Tanning, and also at the Chesaning Schools (for students & staff). The Riverfront is offering food discounts when you place your Sheila’s Kids t-shirt order at the restaurant. Shirt orders will be accepted until April 30, 2010. Prices start at $12 each for t-shirts, $20 for long-sleeve tshirts and $40 for sweatshirts. Donations to “Sheila’s Kids” will also be forwarded to support the library at Big Rock School. Checks should be made out to Sheila’s Kids, P.O. Box 61, Chesaning, MI 48616. All proceeds from t-shirt sales and donations go to Big Rock Elementary School.

VILLAGE HIRES AUDITOR – The Village of Chesaning voted to hire the auditing firm of Campbell Kusterer & Co., PC to perform their annual audits for the next three years. Mayor Pro-Tem Damion Frasier performed a background check on the auditing firm. The only complaint he found was from the Dexter Library who complained that the firm’s representative didn’t wear a suit. Campbell Kusterer & Co. provided the low bid for the services required. Interim Village Administrator Dennis Collison reported that he had confirmed the full list of required reports included in the bid of $9,000. The council approved.

VILLAGE CONTRACTS WITH SPICER – During the March 2 meeting, Chesaning Village Council approved an administrator agreement with Spicer Group. Through this agreement Spicer has brought in Dennis Collison to serve as interim administrator at a flat fee of $8.00 per hour. Mayor Pro-Tem Damion Frasier told the council, “If we decide Dennis is not our person, then they will provide another.” Councilman Don Swartzmiller commented, “I’m impressed with the reports I’ve seen.” The motion to accept Spicer Group’s administrator agreement retroactive to Feb. 2 was approved. Collison prepared a job description, list of questions to ask, and an ad to publicize the administrator position. The board discussed their preferences in how to proceed with the search.

WATER POLICY – The Chesaning Village Council discussed their water meter policy. Councilman Paul Gross commented that there was nothing to accommodate for outside water usage, where the sanitary sewer system was not affected. He suggested an alternative to high water bills. According to Mayor Pro- Tem Damion Frasier, his neighbor Bill Boyd had a separate meter installed. Ken Valentine said Bob Bloom has a separate meter too. Mayor Joe Sedlar, Jr. commented, “There’s no reason to pay sewer bills for water not going through the system.” Gross responded, “You’d have to have the water spigots isolated.” Sedlar believed it would only require a backflow restrictor. “Realistically, there are some people who have a separate system for lawns,” Frasier commented. Sedlar told Gross, “We’ve got time. You should look at it.”

MAUSOLEUM UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT – The Chesaning Township Board has won the case to take ownership of the mausoleum at Wildwood Cemetery. The mausoleum has been an ongoing concern as a health and safety hazard. But until now, the township did not have the authority to repair the dilapidated structure. Judge William Crane recently ruled in favor of transferring ownership. The township has not yet received the deed. During the March 4 meeting of the Chesaning Township Board, Supervisor Robert Corrin asked Trustee Pete Hemgesberg to look into getting bids to repair the roof and windows on the mausoleum. Township Clerk Sue Emmendorfer has been in contact with Robert Ward, a genealogist who has been recording the names on tombstones in Wildwood Cementery. He has offered to enter the mausoleum to video record the names of the remaining bodies inside knowing the potential health risks involved. The township attorney will be writing up a waiver before he is allowed to enter.

FRISBEE GOLF PROPOSED – According to Chesaning Township Trustee Kevin Carlton, Chesaning Parks and Recreation has received a proposal to create a Frisbee Golf course at Showboat Park. Frisbee Golf is a game where players throw Frisbees toward targets laid out on a course. An 18-hole course has been proposed. The cost is estimated at $7,000. Village Mayor Pro-Tem Damion Frasier is looking for grants for the project, Carlton said.

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