Cost cutting at White Pigeon schools

The White Pigeon Board of Education has agreed to one-year contract extensions with the district leadership team and administrative team members for the 2009-10 school year.

According to a news release from Ron Drzewicki, superintendent of the White Pigeon Community Schools, the contract extensions call for a freeze on all wages and benefits. The district paraprofessionals, secretaries, and food service employees also agreed to a pay and benefit freeze for the 2009-10 school year.

This past spring, the Board of Education agreed to a three-year contract extension with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) representing the district’s bus drivers and custodians. The contract calls for a two-year wage and benefit freeze with a wage and benefit re-opener for the 2011-12 school year.

To help the district financially, White Pigeon’s administrators, directors, custodians, and secretaries switched insurance carriers last fall. The new insurance program is a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) major medical plan with employer self-funded dental and vision. The district saved approximately $42,500 last year because of the insurance change. This amounts to a $2,600 per employee savings over a nine-month period.

The news release says, “The school district appreciates the cooperation of the administrative and support staff in helping to balance the school budget. The insurance concessions saved the district dollars and kept insurance cost increases contained.”

Sen. Brown promotes agriculture

As Michigan’s second leading industry, agriculture is of paramount importance, said Sen. Cameron Brown, sponsor of two resolutions designed to ensure the Michigan Department of Agriculture remains distinct.

“Agriculture contributes more than $70 billion to our state’s economy,” said Brown, R-Fawn River Township. “Michigan agriculture employs more than 1 million workers and is one of the few growing and reliable economic sectors in our state. We must preserve the integrity of this vital state department.”

Senate Resolution 83 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 express support for keeping the MDA a distinct department within state government.

The Granholm administration recently discussed merging the MDA with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

These comments have caused great concern across all sectors of the agricultural industry, including agricultural producers, food processors and agribusinesses.

“While we need to reform state government so its programs operate more efficiently, consolidating MDA into these other departments would not yield efficiencies but would instead hamper an industry that is helping sustain Michigan during these challenging times,” said Brown, chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the MDA’s budget.

For more than 88 years, the MDA has supported and facilitated the economic expansion of the state’s agricultural industry and ensured an abundant and safe food supply for all Michigan residents.

In addition to oversight of agriculture, agricultural production, food safety, conservation, and environmental roles, the MDA also assumes many consumer protection responsibilities. The department works actively with restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and other retailers to ensure products are both safe and properly advertised.

“Our manufacturing sector is trying to recover. Now is not the time to dilute the effectiveness of MDA programs and place Michigan’s agricultural industry at a potential disadvantage with other states,”

Brown said. “Instead, we should recognize the tradition of problem-solving at the MDA and encourage other states agencies to achieve that same level of excellence and accountability. Merging these three departments together is a mistake that will only increase inefficiency and create obstacles.”

Both resolutions were approved by the Michigan Senate. SCR 22 now heads to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

Wrap-up – SJC Grange Fair

This year’s St. Joseph County Grange Fair is a part of history now and the 2009 chapter is a positive one.

That’s the indication in a news release from Fair Manager Bill Johnson who said that numerous changes were done this year to stimulate attendance and make the Fair “more economical for the fairgoer.”

Johnson said, “It started with opening the Fair a day early with free attendance and parking. We hoped this would be a preview of the following days to come at the St. Joseph County Grange Fair. It was a great success according to our commercial vendors who had worked extra hard to make sure they were set up and ready for attendees.”

“Dollar Day” on Tuesday was another change, one that was also a success, exceeding attendance numbers for a Tuesday higher than in the past ten years. The day featured a $1 entry, $1 rides, and numerous vendors put something either on their table or food booth for $1.

Johnson said, “The weather was better than predicted, which resulted in good attendance every day of the Fair week. The attendance was not record-breaking each day; however, it remained steady each day and, as best our records could indicate, we had 159,000 attendees,” a number that does not include the free Saturday on September 19th.

The raffle of a John Deere Gator was one of the ways the Fair attempted to offset the elimination of funds from the State of Michigan for premiums. The profit from the raffle was $7,442. Mike Kline from Centreville was the winner and Johnson said, “We wish to thank all those people who purchased the tickets.”

October blood drives

As area residents prepare to protect themselves during this year’s flu season by getting a flu shot, the American Red Cross wants to remind volunteer blood donors that they should experience few problems giving blood after receiving a flu shot, thanks to screening tests used by the Red Cross.

“A flu shot has no effects on the safety of a donor’s blood,” says Sharon Jaksa, chief executive officer of the Great Lakes Region of the American Red Cross. “It is perfectly safe to donate blood after you get a flu shot, as long as you feel well on the day of donation and meet eligibility requirements.”

The Red Cross uses blood screening tests that do not cross-react with the flu vaccine. However, some people do have non-specific symptoms such as a fever, headache or body aches soon after receiving a flu shot. Persons with those symptoms should defer their blood donation until they feel better.

The Greater Kalamazoo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will host 46 public blood drives throughout its four-county service area in October.

All eligible donors are urged to give blood in October to help boost blood supplies as we approach the holiday season.

Here’s the schedule for blood drives in St. Joseph County during October:

• Friday, October 2, Noon-5:45 p.m. – Mendon United Methodist Church, 320 West Main Street, Mendon

• Tuesday, October 6, 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m. – St. Joseph County ISD, 62445 Shimmel Road, Centreville

• Monday, October 12, Noon-5:45 p.m. – Sturgis Wesleyan Church, 907 North Nottawa, Sturgis

• Wednesday, October 21, 11:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. – JoCo Center, 805 Wood Street, Three Rivers

• Friday, October 23, Noon-5:45 p.m. – Pioneer Hi-Bred International, 1365 South Washington Street, Constantine

Golf tournament for United Way

Island Hills Golf Club promises “cold golf, hot food and sizzlin’ fun” during the Big Hole Golf Tournament slated for Saturday, October 17th, at the course near Centreville.

The event will benefit the St. Joseph County United Way and take place – rain or shine – with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start.

For details and an entry form, go to www.islandhillsgolf.com.

House passes interim budget

Facing a midnight deadline and a lot of business left to do, the state House passed an interim general fund budget that would keep government operating if a budget deal can’t be reached.  Read more

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