Alger County
Alger County Extension
413 Elm Avenue
Munising, MI 49862 / P: 906-387-2530

F: 906-387-2710

/ E-mail:

Web: www.msue.msu.edu/Alger

December 2007

4-H youths making a difference

On a Friday when there is no school, most young people would enjoy sleeping a good portion of the morning away. This was not the case for 38 Alger County youths on Friday, Oct. 12.
Alger County 4-H members, parent volunteers and the Munising High School Key Club, in collaboration with the Alger County Commission on Aging, raked leaves for those in need of assistance.
Groups set off from the MSU Extension office at 9 a.m. and dispersed to homes around the Munising area. The crews spent their time raking and visiting with the residents. By 11 a.m., they all met back at the Extension office for pizza and pop.
One of the event’s highlights was when three teens quickly became leaders and began coaching the younger workers. These teens did a fantastic job encouraging and guiding the younger youths in working as a team and filling and tying the bags of leaves. What a great opportunity for teens to step forward and take a lead role.
Another highlight was getting feedback from the individuals whose yards were raked. All of the comments expressed how the groups did a terrific job.
“We enjoyed meeting the young people and their leader. They were all so personable and polite,” one recipient said. “A great bunch. Thank you so much for this service.” / One youth said, “Working as a team gets the job done.” These young people did not simply fill required community service hours--they shared bits of themselves, learned valuable life skills and represented clubs in a very positive light.

Extension helps recycling program

Alger County Recycling is a volunteer-based group initiated in 1990 with Alger County Extension Director Jim Isleib elected as charter chairperson.
Since then, there have been many been many ups and downs in the local recycling scene, but Extension has stayed involved with other community partners to keep the program alive. A private enterprise took over the program in the late 90s, but was unable to continue due to market fluctuations.
Volunteer efforts were renewed in 2004 with the City of Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore facilities manager Chris Case, the U.S. Forest Service and MSU Extension as key partners. Weekly paper collections have resulted in 15 semi-truck shipments of recyclable paper totaling 139 tons and a financially self-sustaining paper recycling program.

/ Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. Offices in counties across the state link the research of the land-grant university, MSU, to challenges facingcommunities. Citizens serving on county Extension councils regularly help select focus areas for programming. MSU Extension is funded jointly by county boards of commissioners,the state through Michigan State University and federally through the US Department of Agriculture. /

Pesticide applicators receive enhanced training

Extension’s collaborations with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) yield convenient and productive training opportunities for farmers and commercial pesticide applicators.
Annual educational programs based on the MSU Extension pesticide applicator core manual have been offered in Alger and surrounding counties since 1990.
In recent years, Alger County Extension director Jim Isleib has collaborated with U.P. MDA Pesticide and Plant Pest Management specialist Dave White to offer programs in early December, coinciding with the expiration of the three-year state certification cycle.
These programs include an opportunity for participants to take the necessary state pesticide applicator exams following the educational portion of the program.
Since 2001, 107 people have attended the early December educational programs held at the MSU U.P. Agricultural Experiment Station in Chatham. Fifty seven have taken MDA exams immediately following the educational presentation.
The combination of educational review and state exam testing opportunity greatly increases the value of this program for participants, drawing people from as far away as Chippewa, Iron and Baraga counties.
A new collaboration with MDA developed this year resulted in the delivery of two full-day core training programs in two U.P. locations reaching 28 applicators. MSU Extension and MDA staff teamed up to offer presentations related to pesticides in the environment, groundwater protection, federal and state laws and personal protective equipment.
At each program, a local emergency response official taught participants how to best manage a fire or other emergency involving pesticides.
The enhanced content and extended length of this program provided participants with all eight educational credits required by MDA to fulfill the requirement for applicator recertification. /

Munising schools benefit from health programs

Based on Healthy School Action Tool (HSAT) scorecards completed by Munising elementary, middle and high schools in 2006 and 2007, the local HSAT team took action.
Team members include one school principal, at least one classroom teacher, physical education teachers, the food service director, lead cook, a parent, two high school students and Joan Vinette, Alger County MSU Extension educator.
Team goals include organizing the third annual in-school health fair in February for all schools. The event will feature several MSU Extension programs, including Family Nutrition Program activities, the 4-H JIFF (Jump Into Foods and Fitness) curriculum and Family and Consumer Sciences healthy living activities.
One of the elementary school goals has been to increase participation in the school breakfast program. To promote this, the HSAT team, in collaboration with the Central Connection parents group, sponsored several special nutritionally enhanced breakfasts.
The meal included a yogurt fruit parfait, fresh fruit, and milk taste tests. Each year two parent breakfasts are scheduled, one for a fathers and their children and another for mothers and their kids.
This fall, first through third graders enjoyed three free breakfasts sponsored by Central Connection. These meals proved very popular, and afterward, the school documented an increase in the number of breakfasts served in the cafeteria. The school currently serves about 90 breakfasts daily.
Upcoming Events
Jan. 7 – Alger County 4-H Council meeting
Jan. 10 – “Organic 101,” Munising
Jan. 14 , 15 – Forage Improvement programs,
Mass City, Iron River, Stephenson
Jan. 16 – Sustainable Forestry Education “Visual
Quality Management,” Munising
Jan. 22 – Moonlight Snowshoe Tour, Munising
Jan. 24 – “Organic on a Budget,” Munising
Feb. 13 – Alfalfa Management program, Escanaba
Feb. 18-22 – Soil Health programs, across the U.P.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Thomas G. Coon, Extension Director, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824