The Clinton Chronicle | Clinton County News by Michigan State University journalism students

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May 3, 2013 by kagarcia92

Emerald Golf provides St. Johns unique Mid-Michigan attraction

The Emerald clubhouse includes a golf pro shop, banquet area and pizzeria.

By Kay Askew
Clinton Chronicle staff writer

The Gem of Mid-Michigan, also known as the Emerald Golf Course in St. Johns has a busy schedule to look forward to this spring and summer season, weather permitting.

Taller Saller, the food and beverages manager said that a lot of the golfing business depends on the weather. The Director of Golf Course Operations, Jay Eccleton has made significant changes to The Emerald to attract a larger customer base.

“Now we do a lot of events like weddings, class reunions, first communions…we didn’t do that when I first started,” Saller said.

The course has metamorphosed from the Clinton County Country Club, a private golf course, into the Emerald which is open to the public and offers a banquet space in the clubhouse as well as a golf pro shop and newly opened pizzeria. Golf Digest named The Emerald one of the top 100 women friendly courses in 2002. The magazine also rated it three and a half stars.

From left: bar maids Emily Hubert, Taller Saller and Jordyn Nurenburg stand behind the concessions counter in the clubhouse.

The golf course attracts a lot of people to come play and groups to hold outings and events there, said Eccleton.

“Our biggest event is our Stroke For Life event, which is an event for the local area hospital, the Sparrow Clinton Memorial Hospital. They will have anywhere from 250 plus participants play in a double shotgun format. And it raises close to $20,000 a year for the hospital,” said Eccleton.

The double shotgun format in golf is when half of the group, about 125 people, will tee off simultaneously at 9 a.m. on different holes, and the other half at 11 a.m. in the same fashion, Saller said.

Besides the hospital fundraiser event, The Emerald also hosts about two outings per week, has several leagues of local people, and traveling leagues. The Emerald offers packages with the Doherty Hotel and allows for anyone to book a tee time, said Saller.

“We’re also hosting the Michigan Amateur golf championships on May 7, and it’s a big day for us,” said Eccleton about the next event to be hosted.

Eccleton said The Emerald also hosts high school regional championships near the end of May.

In the summer, the Emerald serves ready-to-go snacks in the gazebo.

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May 2, 2013 by cscruggs

St. Johns Downtown Farmers Market to open June 15

By Carmen Scruggs
Clinton Chronicle staff writer

St.Johns’ residents will get to shop for fresh local farm products at the opening of the Downtown Farmer’s Market starting June 15.

Market Produce. Photo by www.examiner.com

The market, located on Maple Street between Cass Street and State Street, is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon from June 15 until Oct. 26.

St. Johns’ Farmers Market started more than 50 years ago to house local farmers’ home-grown fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and nuts. The market provides meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products as well. Customers can find a more diverse selection of custom products than at a chain grocery store since the market offers home prepared and baked goods such as cakes, jams and maple syrup.

Food products are not the only goods the market provides however. Artisans and crafters supply potted flowers, stained glass, crochet dish cloths, candles and a variety of jewelry.

The Farmer’s Market Master Shirley Davis helps to provide farmers with a venue to display and sell their produce and products.

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May 2, 2013 by cscruggs

Rising teenage drug use hinders D.A.R.E. efforts

By Carmen Scruggs
Clinton Chronicle staff writer

Substance abuse among teenagers has increased over recent years, with growing trends in marijuana, nonmedical use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. In 2012, nearly 15 percent of 12th graders reported using prescription drugs as nonmedical, according to the National Institute on Drug Reports.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program helps teach K-12^th graders about drugs and how to make the right decisions to help keep substance abuse trends down. More than 75,000 law enforcement officers and deputies have been certified to teach the program in the United States.

The D.A.R.E program in Michigan is dealing with less funding for officers to visit schools for the educational program..

Audrey Martini, D.A.R.E Michigan State Training Center Coordinator, said the number of certified D.A.R.E officers in Michigan is falling.

“D.A.R.E is usually funded through a combination of the police department and the schools, since there is a cost for the officers’ time,” said Martini.
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May 2, 2013 by Alex Tekip

Demand-response transit system finds success in county

A Clinton County Blue Bus seen from a distance near downtown St. Johns. The Blue Bus is part of a demand-response transit system that serves the entire county.
Photo by Alex Tekip

By Alex Tekip
Clinton Chronicle staff reporter

ST JOHNS—A short drive north on U.S 127 the Lansing Area will reveal a very different world: speed limits are higher, farmland is common, and fixed-route transit systems are not.

However, one will see quite a few Blue Buses on the road.

They are part of Clinton County’s demand-response transit system.

Dawn Benson, General Manager of Clinton Transit, said the goal of the demand-response system, which the Blue Buses use to make transportation as efficient as possible.

“We’re a demand-response system. We do not have any regular times, regular routes,” she said. “Demand-response means someone calls and asks for a trip and we work it into a bus route, [we] try to be as efficient as possible, serving every address in Clinton County at least six times a day.”
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May 2, 2013 by Alex Tekip

Sheriff’s Department undergoes yearly training

By Alex Tekip
Clinton chronicle staff reporter

CLINTON COUNTY—If a team is as strong as its weakest link, don’t expect the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department to go down easy.

The sheriff’s department, along with other police forces in Clinton County, spent the week of April 15-19 completing their annual core training at Dewitt High School.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department is prepared to deal with violence in schools.
Photo by Alex Tekip

Clinton County Deputy Sharon Worthington said core training is regular, required practice for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies in Clinton County, such as the police departments of Dewitt, St. Johns, and surrounding cities.

Worthington said the training takes place in a local high school every year, with the main focus being police force response to situations that would pose dangerous to school safety.

“Core training is primarily about how to deal with school safety [issues],” she said.
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May 2, 2013 by Alex Tekip

St. Johns annual mint festival will be Aug. 9-11

The annual St. Johns Mint Festival will take place Aug. 9-11 in St. Johns City Park.
Photo by Alex Tekip

By Alex Tekip
Clinton Chronicle staff reporter

ST. JOHNS—The Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Mint Festival Committee has already started planning for the 29^th annual St. Johns Mint Festival.

The celebration is scheduled to take place on Aug. 9-11 in the St. Johns City Park.

Mint Festival Committee Chair Brenda Terpening said last year’s festival was not as big of a success as originally thought, mainly due to poor weather conditions.

“There was pretty bad rain,” she said. “(Because of that), we took a financial hit.”
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May 1, 2013 by cscruggs

Cremation not the only option for county funerals

Smith Family Funeral Home Staff. Photo by Smith Family Funeral Homes

By Carmen Scruggs
Clinton Chronicle staff writer

The funeral business in St.Johns is seeing a few more people choosing cremation as a burial option, although traditional funeral services are still preferred. There are over two and a half million funerals per year and cost an average of $6,560, according to statistics from the National Funeral Directors Association.

Arranging funeral services involves more steps aside from paying however. Smith Family Funeral Homes in St.Johns provides assistance in planning funerals. Sarah Bartlett, a funeral director at St.Johns’ Smith Funeral Homes, said although many families have pre-arranged funerals, the funeral home staff can help arrange funeral services for those without prior plans.

“In the event that the person didn’t have any pre-arranged funeral plans, that makes more decisions for the family at that time,” said Bartlett. “At that point we start from scratch and discuss their options, pricing and what to expect at that point.”

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