WexfordCounty Extension
401 N. Lake St. -- Suite 400
Cadillac, MI49601-1891 / P: 231-779-9480
F: 231-779-9105 / E-mail:
Web: msue.msu.edu/wexford
April 2006
Protecting homes from fire
“I have concerns for my property in regards to fire. I am certain that my property needs work to reduce fire danger. I would be foolish to ignore the possibility.”This is how one Manton property owner reacted to MSU Extension’s Firewise mailing. He followed up with specific questions and the intent to modify his yard to protect his home.
He was an owner of one of more than 800WexfordCountyhomes that may be located in high fire risk areas.
Homes threatened by wildfire are often located where homes, land divisions and subdivisions have been located in wildland areas where natural wildfires can have an impact.
Through a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MSU Extension, MSU’s Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Science office, and Chad Collins, Wexford County Geographic Information System technician, identified 820 homes located in potential high risk areas based on tree species.
A mailing was sent to owners of the properties in March, the beginning of wildfire season. The mailing contained information about what homeowners can do, including modifying landscape designs, providing access for emergency equipment and using structural barriers to protect homes from wildfire.
—Contact: Kurt H. Schindler, County Extension Director;
—Contact: Jill O’Donnell, Statewide Christmas tree educator; /
Second time is the charm
It was her second baby. MSU Extension Breast-feeding peer counselor Cindy Funck had first met the young mother after she gave birth to her first baby.This mom wasn't sure she wanted or needed Funck’s help and was concerned because she had difficulties with her first baby and did not breast-feed for very long. Funck convincedher that a visit before the birth of her second baby would be helpful.
After giving birth the mother said “I am so glad that you came and visited me before my baby was born. Everything is going great! I remembered what you said about relaxing and to make sure that I was comfortable. This has made breast-feeding so much easier for me. I just know that I am going to make it this time!”
— Contact: Cindy Funck, Breast-feeding Peer Counselor, PAIII;
/ 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. /
4-H builds skills that last a lifetime
WexfordCounty4-H is all about developing skills that will follow young people throughout their lives – including working with teenage mothers.Much of the effort, in one aspect of this program, is with teenage mothers with the goal to help babies get a better start.
Williams supervises VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) workers who make mentor matches that will have a positive impact on mentors and youths for years. One part of the program is work with Doula mentoring program in Cadillac, Michigan.
In 4-H Challenge, youthsexperience accomplishmentsand buildwilderness skills like rock climbing, river rafting and camping. They help make trip decisions and they take responsibility for themselves.
This success is a direct result of 4-H/Youth educator Dee Williams’ priority toward youth development. Traditional 4-H leaders, mentors, and Doula mentors are making a difference in the lives of youths because they care, listen and guide.
4-H also has long-term affects on young people through the Wexford-Missaukee Mentor Michigan program.
—Contact: Dee Williams, 4-H Youth Educator;
Local leaders focus on collaboration to save money
County boards of commissioners in four Michigan counties have led efforts to bring other local government officials together to discuss common issues.Called county summits, the events were the creation of Janice McCraner, Manistee County commissioner. In early 2005 she enlisted the assistance of John Amrhein, MSU Extension State and Local Government educator, to present a program on local government and to facilitate a discussion about issues that could be more effectively addressed together. / The Manistee County summit was held in April 2005, with about 60 local officials who developed a list of topics for future summits. Manistee County is holding its third summit this spring.
The concept for a summit was shared with commissioners at the Michigan Northern Counties Association during the summer of 2005.
Oceana County leaders held a similar summit in October, led by Commissioner Evelyn Kolbe. Kolbe invited Michigan Association of Counties President Gerald Peterson, of Tuscola County. He then organized a Tuscola County summit in March 2006 Clare County is beginning to plan its first summit as a result of a strategic planning session held recently.
The program is available to any county. The format that has been used includes about an hour on history of local government in Michigan, roles of local governments and methods by which cooperative efforts by local units can be structured.
Participants then identify issues which might benefit from cooperative efforts.
“The focus is on saving money and/or providing better service to citizens,” says Amrhein. “We’re not doing this just because intergovernmental cooperation is a current fad. The participants in all of these counties are concerned with declining revenues and increasing demands for services. They are looking for ways to do more with less.”
The issues are then prioritized by the group. Each of the three counties has taken a slightly different approach after that point.
Manistee County used its list to plan future summits as educational programs which could then lead to greater cooperation.
Oceana County officials made plans at the meeting to address their top two issues. Their plans included an educational session and a committee to begin work on one issue. Tuscola developed committees to begin work on the top issues.
—Contact: John Amrhein, State & Local Government Educator;
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal opportunity institution; Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family 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