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The new Tri-County Citizen office is located at 110 S. Chapman Street, in the southeast corner of the former IGA building.

"It's great to be downtown," said Joe Spreeman, general manager of the Citizen. "The downtown area is the heart and soul of the small town, and we're excited to be a part of that here in Chesaning."

The Citizen's new, slightly larger office was designed specifically for the newspaper. The sales, composition and editorial departments have their own areas. The building was wired to meet the needs of the complex computer systems required by the operation.

The move was accomplished last weekend, with the office remaining closed on Monday, March 31 in order for the staff to get unpacked and back in operation.

An open house is being planned for sometime in the early summer.

Chesaning village issues bonds for sewer system revisions

By KEITH SALISBURY

Interim Editor

CHESANING - Village of Chesaning officials this week signed paperwork to issue bonds in order to finance renovations to the sanitary sewer system.

The $785,000 worth of bonds was purchased by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through a program to provide funding to rural communities with populations under 10,000.

The project will include the installation of a new 10 inch force main running north along Main Street to the wastewater treatment plant, said Lou Fleury of Rowe Professional Services Co., engineers for the project.

There will also be some upgrades made at the Canal Street lift station, which will include a septic recovery unit for use by septic haulers. The new unit will be monitored by a meter for accurate tabulation of sewage amounts for billing purposes. Currently septic haulers are utilizing the Chapman Street station.

Work on the project began last Monday, with an expected completion date of Aug. 31. Glaeser-Dawes out of Flushing is the contractor for the project.

The village is also undertaking a street project in the same area. Work on that project is slated to begin on May 26.

Fleury said the plan is to have the sewer pipe in the ground in the roadway before the street project begins.

C & D Hughes out of Charlotte is the contractor for the street project.

Local Scouts to lend a helping hand

Troop #335 to organize Scouting for Food driveon April 12 & 19

CHESANING -- With unemployment on the rise, and many families facing economic hardship, a group of local Boy Scouts are planning to put their well-worn hiking boots to a slightly different use: collecting non-perishable food and other household items to be donated to a local community assistance organization.

Boy Scout Troop #335 will go door to door collecting items as part of the national Scouting for Food campaign taking place in communities across the country.

The troop will distribute collection bags on doorsteps on Saturday, April 12. Then on Saturday, April 19, the Scouts will return to pick up the bags, which they are asking residents to fill with non-perishable foods and other household items such as baby food, personal hygiene items (soap, shampoo, etc.) and paper products.

The items will be collected and sorted by the Scouts and will then be distributed by the Chesaning Area Emergency Relief (CAER) Center to families in the Chesaning area.

"Scouting for Food gives our youth the opportunity to give something back to their community," said Dan Stasa, Scoutmaster of Troop 335. "All Boy Scouts promise 'to help other people at all times and this is one more example of that promise in action.'"

"At this time of year, it is critically important that we collect these products to serve the families in need in the Chesaning area," said Kenn Bueche, president of the CAER Center. "Simply put, we would not be able to collect this much food and other necessities without the help of the Scouts."

Troop #335 is made up of 19 boys and is lead by a team of 10 adults leaders, including Scoutmaster Stasa. The troop meets every Monday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 1629 W. Brady Road, Chesaning.

Young men between the ages of 11 and 18 who are interested in joining the troop, or finding out more about the Scouting program, are encouraged to call Scoutmaster Stasa at (989) 845-2806.

Our Lady hosts 10th annual tribute to Mary and all Mothers Family Brunch

CHESANING -- On May 4, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the Christian Service Commission of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church is hosting a festive Family Brunch at Our Lady Parish Hall, 803 Church St., in Chesaning.

Following the meal, youth and adults will present a prayerful program of music, a special Living Rosary and May Crowning tribute to Mary the Blessed Mother.

Special gifts for mothers will be available for purchase -- roses, corsages and pins. The proceeds for these will go to Right to Life of Saginaw.

All families and individuals are welcome. the brunch, served at 11:30 a.m., will include omelets, ham, hash browns, fruit, mini bagels, assorted coffee cakes and fruit-filled Danish. There is a $6 charger per person, children ages 5 and under are free.

Tickets will be sold at Our Lady Church during the month of April. Reservations can be made by sending checks and the number of people attending to Family Brunch, Our Lady Church, 404 S. Wood St., Chesaning, MI 48616 by April 27. For more information, contact Diane Hungerford at (989) 845-6894.

The public is welcome to enjoy good food, warm hospitality and an inspirational program. The proceeds for this event are designated to the Chesaning Area Emergency Relief (CAER).

Hartley seeking salamander searchers

ST. CHARLES - The Hartley Outdoor Education Center is looking for salamander searchers.

Naturalist Paul Roose will be guiding searchers on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to noon as they put their searching skills to good use finding salamanders under logs, rocks and other items.

This is the start of a new monthly program at the Hartley Outdoor Education Center called Hartley CSI (Citizen Science Investigators).

Hartley CSI annual membership is $50, and participants will receive: a one-year subscription to Good Natured News; recognition in the Good Natured News; an invitation to the Hartley Appreciation Breakfast; Hartley Trading Post coupon; and a Hartley CSI member shirt, certificate and badge.

Drop-in investigators are also welcome at $8 per month.

All investigators must pre-register by 1 p.m. on Friday, April 11. Call Hartley at (989) 865-6295 to register or for more information.

The Hartley Outdoor Education Center is located at 12633 Beaver Road, St. Charles.

Scouting for Food in St. Charles

ST. CHARLES -- On Saturday, April 12 the Cub Scouts of Pack 3305 and the Boy Scouts of Troop 305 will hang a WHITE Scouting for Food bag on each front door in the Village of St. Charles. They will also leave a few hooked to the mailboxes of some of the residents in the surrounding area.

The Scouts will be back on Saturday, April 19 from 9-11 a.m. to collect food donations. Leave the filled bags on the front porch or at or hanging from your mailbox at the road.

All food collected goes to the St. Charles United Methodist Church Food Pantry to be distributed to anyone in need in the St. Charles Area.

Peanut butter, tuna fish, canned goods and paper and laundry products are needed. Please don't put out items that are outdated or in glass jars.

The economy is in a slump right now and there is a need in our area. Please support the Scouts and the community in this worthwhile project.

The Scouts will have someone at the church (Fulton Street in St. Charles in the back parking lot) on April 19 between 9-11:30 a.m. for those who want to drop bags off themselves.

If the Scouts miss a house or if anyone has any questions, call Tom Orr at (989) 642-8708.

Local young author receives state recognition

ST. CHARLES -- Joe Wilkins, a fourth grade student at St. Charles Elementary, was selected for publication in Kaleidoscope 2008, a collection of student writings assembled by the Michigan Reading Association. Wilkins' piece is titled Grandma Taters and the Cookie Flinger.

Kaleidoscope is in its 17th year of publication. Its purpose is to celebrate the talents of Michigan's young authors. Each school may submit one piece of writing to be published. Mrs. Bogar selected Joe Wilkin's piece for its creativity and humor. This year's participants represent 105 schools from across the state. The authors from Kindergarten through twelfth grade, address a wide variety of topics, but they have one thing in common - they all love to write!

In addition to becoming published authors, the students were invited to attend a special luncheon at the 52nd Michigan Reading Association Annual Conference, on Sunday March 16, in the Ambassador Ballroom of Cobo Center in Detroit. This year's luncheon featured nationally known authors and musicians John Archambault (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom) and David Plummer. Joe had the opportunity to meet the authors and purchase signed copies of their books.

Wilkins and his parents, Joseph and Sara Wilkins, of St. Charles, attended the luncheon as well as the school principal, Jim Rundborg, his fourth grade teacher, Kathy Bogar and kindergarten teacher, Julie Schexnaildre.

Bogar presented Wilkins with an Authors Medal at the luncheon. The opportunity to be published at such a young age is a wonderful opportunity.