Flu season: How many shots?

Doctors don’t know yet if it will take one dose or two of vaccine to protect against the new swine flu. Add that to vaccine for the regular winter flu, and it could be a multishot season for a lot of people – or a multisquirt season, for those who choose the FluMist nasal-spray version.

Some possibilities:

-One shot: Older adults currently aren’t on the priority list to get swine flu vaccine but they should get the seasonal vaccine, which is available.

-Two shots: There’s a potential for the regular vaccine in one arm and the swine flu vaccine in the other, if that one requires just one dose.

-Three shots: The swine flu vaccine might require two doses three weeks apart, plus the regular vaccine.

-Four shots: There’s even this possibility for some children. Youngsters under 9 who are getting their first-ever regular flu vaccination need two doses of it.  (AP)

Mary Holmes, 87

Mary M. Holmes, age 87, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village.

She was born Sept. 6, 1921, in Connersville, Ind., a daughter to the late William Walter and Bessie Viola (York) Oldham.

In 1938 she married Charles E. Kain in Liberty, Ind. This marriage ended in divorce. In Feb. of 1955 she married Robert C. Holmes in Ft. Wayne, Ind. He preceded her in death.

Mary moved to Sturgis in 1957 coming from Liberty, Ind. She had been employed as a cashier and department supervisor for the Ames Dept. Store in Sturgis. She enjoyed ceramics, reading, cooking, mushroom hunting, her pets, and spending time with her grandchildren and family.

Surviving are one daughter, Donna S. (Ken) Johnson of Sturgis; one son, Gary “Gus” E. (Dixie) Kain of Sturgis; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and special friend, Herb Haskins of Sturgis, MI.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Marlene Nolan; and a brother, Veryl E. Oldham.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 1-2 p.m. Tuesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak, MI with The Rev. Deb Johnson, First United Methodist Church, officiating.

The family suggest memorial donations be directed to Thurston Woods Village. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.

Marcella Myers, 85

Marcella Defena Myers, age 85, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at Sturgis Hospital.

She was born March 22, 1924, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter to the late William and Grace Kerns.

Marcella was first married to Elton Barkman and after his passing she married Harold Myers.  He also preceded her in death.

She had been employed by Doer Products in Burr Oak, Mich., for 28 years and was a member for 34 years of the Sturgis Moose Lodge and the Capt. John J. Kelley V.F.W. Post #1355.

She enjoyed playing Bingo, playing cards, crossword puzzles, needlepoint, collecting rabbits, and being with people, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving are three children, Alta Kane and Glenna Michielsen, both of Burr Oak,  and Ivan (Dixie) Barkman of Bronson, Mich.; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Leola Middleton of Coldwater; two brothers, Herbert Kerns of LaGrange, Ind., and William (Louise) Kerns of Burr Oak.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; seven sisters, and five brothers.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091.

Services celebrating the life of Marcella D. Myers will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, in the funeral home with Pastor Michael Cary, officiating.  Graveside services will follow in Burr Oak Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be directed to the family, envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.

Mattie Troyer, 95

Mattie Troyer, age 95, of Colon, passed away Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, at her home.

The family will receive relatives and friends Monday after 4 p.m. and all day Tuesday at the Double M. Building, 59287 Nottawa Road, l mile north of Nottawa.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Double M Building.

The Schipper Funeral Home LTD. in Colon is assisting with arrangements.

Stewart Swihart Sr, 97

Stewart D. Swihart Sr., age 97, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, 404 Cottage, Sturgis, Mich., died peacefully at Thurston Woods Village on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009.

He was born Oct. 25, 1911, to Dyoll and Ella (Dague) Swihart in Howe, Ind.  He graduated Brighton High School (1929) and Purdue University (1934) with a mechanical engineering degree.  He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Reserve Officers Corp.

In 1937, he married Irene L. Koon in Kendallville, Ind.  She died in 1971. In 1975, he married Lillian (Walters) Stukey in Sturgis.

Stewart served five years, stateside, in World War II as a pilot instructor, and separated from the United States Air Force Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel.  At age 60, he was assigned to the United States Air Force, retired.  He purchased and operated Royal Crown Bottling Company in Sturgis for 27 years.  He later worked and retired from Keybank in Sturgis.  In his early years, he worked for the Essington Co., Ft. Wayne, Ind., and received two United States patents for mechanisms controlling the flow of liquids.

 He was an active church and community member.  He served as Chairman of the Congregation at Trinity Lutheran Church and was a member of the Board of Elders, Chairman of the Board of Property, and communion steward.  He was an active Sturgis Exchange Club member earning Exchangite of the Year, The Book of Golden Deeds, and honored for 50 years of service in the Exchange Club.  He was recognized by the Exchange Club for starting a scholarship at Glen Oaks Community College Nursing School.  He served on the Sturgis Airport Advisory Board and was chosen to be the Sturgis Citizen of the year in 2003.  He was a charter member of the Popcorn Guild at Sturgis Hospital.

He was a certified private pilot flying his airplane for business and pleasure.  Many flights were trips to Purdue football games and Purdue class reunions.  He was a life member of the Purdue Alumni Association and the Purdue Forever Club.  He was an avid “Boilermaker” and Big Ten fan.  He also enjoyed his speedboat rides on Klinger Lake and hosting his Cleveland family members at Klinger Lake.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and first wife; three brothers, Donald, Maynard, and Ledger Swihart; and several nieces and nephews.

Surviving are his wife, Lillian; a son, Stew (Donna) Swihart II; grandchildren, Scott Swihart of Sturgis, Steven (Lisa) Swihart of Lansing, and Cathy (Kurt) Stevens of Grand Rapids; five great-grandchildren, Grayson Swihart, William and Jackson Swihart, and Becca and Andy Stevens.  He is also survived by a step-daughter, Christine (Duane) Gonser of Sturgis and a step-son, Jon Stukey of Atlantic City; four step-grandchildren, April (Galen) Geigley, Andrew and Steven Mathews, and Torri Stukey; two step-great-grandchildren, Carina and Cierra Geigley. 

Other survivors are a niece, Marla Swihart; a nephew, Martin Swihart; sister-in-law, Donna (Frank) Krontz; brother-in-law, Clarence (Elaine) Walters and many nieces and nephews from the Sturgis, Howe, and Cleveland areas.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 2-4 p.m. and 6- 8 p.m. Tuesday, at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091.
 

Services celebrating the life of Stewart D. Swihart Sr. will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis with The Rev. Michael Klafehn and The Rev. Calvin Kolzow, officiating.

Graveside services will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery with full military rites conferred by the Capt. John J. Kelley V.F.W. Post #1355 and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard.

The family suggest memorial donations be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church or the World War II Honor Flights. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.

St. Joe County unemployment is 16%

July’s jobless rates were stable in Southwest Michigan.

According to the latest labor market analysis for Southwest Michigan from the Michigan Department of Labor, Energy and Economic Growth (DELEG), both the labor force (people who are employed plus those looking for a job) and employment declined at the same pace, leaving unemployment rates stable.

Usually in July, layoffs of temporary workers continue in the public education sector and auto-related manufacturers temporarily shut down their operations to retool the factories for next year’s models. This year, however, layoffs in the auto sector occurred in earlier months due to financial difficulties and restructuring in the industry. As a consequence, the July temporary layoffs in the auto industry were not as pronounced as usual, leaving unemployment rates virtually flat from June levels.

                The unemployment rate in Branch County in July was 15.5 percent, down from 15.8 percent in June, but considerably higher than the 9.9 percent recorded in July 2008.

                In Cass County, the jobless rate in July was 11.1 percent, down from 11.4 percent in June, but significantly above the 7.1 percent registered in July 2008.

                St. Joseph County’s unemployment rate in July of this year was 16 percent, an improvement from 16.5 percent in June, but up considerably from July 2008 when the figure was 12.1 percent.

Unemployment rates continued to set new high records in July over the past two decades in all regional counties. Jobless rates jumped over the year at an average of 5.2 percentage points. Hillsdale County recorded the highest jobless rate increase over the year (+6.9 percentage points), followed by Lenawee (+6.6) and Jackson (+6.3).

                Michigan’s jobless rate in July was 15.6 percent, up from 15.4 percent in June, and substantially higher than July of last year when it stood at 9.1 percent.

The national jobless rate in July was 9.7 percent, unchanged from June, but up from July of 2008 when it was 6 percent.

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