BRENT RUN EXPANSION MEETING – The Brent Run Landfill will be hosting an open house style meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at the Montrose Kuehn-Haven Middle School cafeteria to provide information about the proposed landfill expansion and partial relocation of Brent Run Creek. Residents can stop by the middle school cafeteria anytime between 7 and 9 p.m. Officials from the Brent Run Landfill will be on hand to talk with interested persons.

MAPLE SYRUP WORKSHOP – The Saginaw Conservation District, in cooperation with Jaques Orchard of Hemlock and The Maple Grille of Hemlock, will be offering a Maple Syrup Workshop on Thursday, March 8, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Jaques Orchard on Iva Road, Hemlock. The cost is $15 per person or $25 per couple, prepaid, which includes a brunch by The Maple Grille. This workshop will encompass tree identification, tapping, collecting sap and processing it to produce a delicious local product. This is ideal for beginners, small wood lot owners and backyard hobbyists. Those interested in attending should send the payment with their name, number of people attending, address, phone number, method of payment and amount before March 2 to Saginaw Conservation District, 178 N. Graham Road, Saginaw, MI 48609. For more information, call (989) 781-4077, ext. 4 or visit www.saginawcd.org.

CHESANING TALENT SHOW – The Chesaning Kiwanis annual Talent Show, to be held Friday, March 2, at 7 p.m. in the Chesaning Middle School auditorium. For more information, contact Lyle Schwandt (989) 845-3669.

GENESEE CO. TREASURER’S OFFICE CLOSED – The Genesee County Treasurer’s office will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20. The treasurer’s office will resume normal business hours on Tuesday through Friday of both weeks.

CHESANING PROPERTY TAXES – 2011 property taxes can still be paid at the Chesaning Township Office through Wednesday, Feb. 29. Interest on summer taxes will be calculated at six percent. There will be no interest or penalty charged on winter taxes paid by Feb. 29. Beginning March 1, all delinquent summer and winter taxes will be payable to the Saginaw County Treasurer at the Saginaw County Courthouse, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Saginaw, MI 48602. Chesaning Township Office hours are Monday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed Wednesdays and Thursdays. However, the office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

CHESANING KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP – Chesaning Schools' Big Rock Elementary is taking preliminary kindergarten registrations for the 2012-13 school year. Kindergarten roundup is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17. A child is eligible for kindergarten if he or she turns 5 years old on or before Dec. 1. Parents should call Big Rock Elementary at (989) 845-2430 with their child's information, and they will be mailed a packet prior to round-up.

SAGINAW CO. TRASH PICK-UP NOT AFFECTED – Monday's Presidents' Day holiday does not impact solid waste collection services provided to the 35 Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) member communities in Saginaw County. All services will be on their regularly scheduled day in each community. Residents should prepare and set out materials as they normally do during the holiday week.

TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULED – Genesee County Commissioners Brenda Clack and Omar A. Sims will host a Town Hall Meeting regarding Genesee County crime and violence provention on Wednesday, Feb. 29 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Harris Auditorium, Genesee County Administration Building, 1101 Beach St., Flint. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the citizens of Flint and Genesee County of measures and coalitions currently being implemented to address the safety concerns in the county. All interested citizens are invited to attend.

BLUEBERRY DEAL – The Montrose Blueberry Festival is bringing Texas Hold’em back into town as a fundraiser supporting the Montrose Blueberry Festival activities and the Blueberry Festival grant program. The two scheduled Texas Hold’em events will be held at the Montrose Pub, on April 1 and May 6. The Montrose Blueberry Festival needs volunteer dealers for both events. Anyone willing to volunteer their time to deal cards for Texas Hold’em at either or both of these community fundraising events, should contact the Montrose Blueberry Office at (810) 639-3475, and leave a message, or send an email to montroseblueberryfestival@hotmail.com.

CHESANING STUDENT COUNT – The spring student count took place across Michigan on Feb. 8, 2012. “It’s good news. We’re not declining,” interim-Superintendent Mike McGough told the school board during their Feb. 11 retreat meeting. Chesaning Schools enjoyed an unexpected gain of 15 students over the fall count. McGough reported that the 11th grade was the only grade level that did not increase. And while the State of Michigan foundation grants to schools is based on the student count. The key funding count takes place in the fall, with 90 percent of each school district’s funding determined by their fall count. This increase in student population won’t affect funding for the remainder of the 2011-2012 school year. But if the increase holds for the fall count, Chesaning Union Schools should receive more foundation funding per student; provided the per pupil funding isn’t cut at the state level. Knowing that the number of students significantly affects the school district’s bottom line, the Chesaning school board recently formed a marketing committee to recruit more students. The marketing committee members are: school board members Rebecka Butcher, Scott Kohagen, Martin Maier, and McGough. School board member Julie Keck is serving as an alternate for the committee.

TECH SAAVY – During their Feb. 11 retreat, Chesaning interim-Superintendent Mike McGough talked about how school staff is using “Google docs” to share documents without emailing. He explained it’s a free service through Google, that enables users to access documents uploaded onto the site through any computer or Smart phone. It allows real-time collaboration, and is secured with passwords to limit access to those designated. Chesaning Union School Board members expressed interest in the innovative technology option.

BUS MECHANIC SOUGHT – Chesaning Union Schools is seeking a diesel mechanic to replace the district’s current mechanic, who has accepted another job. School Board Trustee Scott Kohagen suggested that if Transportation Director Steve Lane is willing to mentor someone, there are diesel mechanics coming out of tech school that need jobs. School Board Vice President David Eickholt commented that they might get someone who is retired. According to interim-Superintendent Mike McGough, starting pay for mechanics is $19.25 an hour, plus benefits. “Maybe we’ll find someone who doesn’t need benefits,” McGough commented. Although school board members commented, that they legally couldn’t ask such a question in an interview. Kohagen mentioned that they might get some good mechanics out of the road commission.

BUS BOND – In an ongoing effort to save funds, the Chesaning Union Schools Board of Education is considering switching to a single bus run. This would save the district by cutting the cost of fuel nearly in half. According to interim-Superintendent Mike McGough, they would have to purchase more buses; three more, he estimated. School Board Vice President David Eickholt suggested they start looking at off-lease buses. These could be purchased using bond money. According to McGough, switching to a single bus run would require changing school start times. He added that there are a lot of variables and suggested they set up meetings to discuss those variables in more detail.

KRAUSE RETURNS – Retired Big Rock Principal Jan Krause has been asked to step in again as athletic director for Chesaning Union Schools. Feb. 24 will be the last day for Chesaning High School Vice Principal/Athletic Director Warren Wood. Chesaning Union Schools recently eliminated all vice principal positions in an effort to save money. Krause has previously served as athletic director for the school district. Interim-Superintendent Mike McGough commented, “Having Jan makes sense. He did it before. Things will go well with Jan in there.” The plan is to repost the athletic director position in May.

CHESANING SIGNS ON FOR GenNET – According to Interim-Superintendent Mike McGough, Chesaning Union Schools is onboard for GenNET Online Learning, a program provide by the Genesee County Intermediate School District (GISD). According to the GenNET website, www.gennet.us, “The program provides students with a wide range of teacher-led courses, teacher-facilitated courses, and selfdirected classroom tools delivered over the Internet. This program provides enhanced learning opportunities for Michigan high school and middle school students.” According to McGough, Genesee County piloted the online class program for the State of Michigan. According to School Board Trustee Julie Keck, Governor Rick Snyder proposed that every high school student have at least two online courses. McGough explained that with GenNET, certified teachers lead, but are not required to be certified in the program being taught. Keck asked whether advanced students could use the GenNET program for their advance placement coursework. McGough confirmed that they could. He added that it does cost the district $275 per student, per class, per semester. “We have to be able to offer it to kids,” he said, adding, “It’s dual enrollment, bringing the college to us.”

MONTROSE STUDENT COUNT – The Feb. 8, 2012 spring student count in Montrose Community Schools was the same as the Oct. 5, 2011 fall student count, according to Montrose Superintendent Mark Kleinhans. “That is significant. Typically that number is 20 down from the fall count,” he commented. School Board President Morrie Fikes wondered if the recent bond improvements had something to do with the good news. Presently, Montrose Community Schools have 63 students enrolled in their Choice programs. During the Montrose Community Schools Feb. 14 Board of Education meeting, Choice School Director Bo Moore commented that typically, the Choice student count is down for the second semester. “I don’t know if we’ll hit 80. Our goal is 100 [Choice students],” Moore said.

MONTROSE AHEAD OF THE GAME – Montrose Community Schools Superintendent Mark Kleinhans reported to school board Curriculum Committee members that the Governor Rick Snyder included providing full-day kindergarten as a requirement. “A lot of schools are scrambling to put full-day kindergarten into their curriculum,” Kleinhans explained that WNEM TV-5 contacted Montrose Schools, thinking with all the district’s budget cuts, how could Montrose possibly comply. He was pleased to say, “We already have full-day kindergarten.” Kindergarten teacher Kathy Dillon-Dowd addressed the media. Kleinhans commented that he was very pleased with the way she handled the interview.