2021 deer seasons included targeted CWD surveillance
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Though Michigan’s 2021 deer hunting seasons ended in late January 2022, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is continuing to accept feedback from hunters about their experiences. Hunter harvest surveys have been sent to a random sample of the state’s deer hunters. In addition, hunters can take a 
“It was not unexpected to find positive cases in Isabella County, as these detections were fairly close to where we’ve identified cases in Montcalm and northern Gratiot County,” said DNR deer and elk specialist Chad Stewart. “Our main areas of infection remain in parts of Montcalm and northeast Kent counties, as well as southern Jackson County, where we knew CWD existed going into the 2021 hunting season.”
CWD surveillance moving forward
Policy Champions honored by Michigan Public Health
Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2022 CONTACT: Chelsea Wuth, 517-241-2112, [email protected] Hometown Health Heroes and Jean Chabut Policy Champions honored by Michigan Public Health Week partnership LANSING, Mich. – As part of National Public Health Week, ten individuals and organizations will be presented with the 2022 Hometown Health Hero and Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion awards for their contributions to protecting and improving the health of Michigan. Hometown Health Hero awards are presented every spring as part of Michigan Public Health Week. “Our Hometown Health Hero awards are a way for us to highlight selfless and dedicated champions of public health who are making incredible efforts to improve the lives of Michigan residents,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “We celebrate all efforts, no matter how small or large, of health care professionals who make a positive impact on our state.” 2022 Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award There are three recipients this year of the Jean Chabut Health Policy Champion Award. All share the same profession: they are health officers for local health departments in Michigan. These individuals were nominated either by a member of their staff or members of their community. They have demonstrated an untiring commitment to the health and safety of their communities. Martha Hall, Lenawee County Health Department Martha serves as the leader of the county health department and has been at the forefront of Lenawee County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the start of the pandemic in February 2020, she has worked tirelessly to protect local residents and has been the guiding force behind all efforts made by the Lenawee County Health Department to slow the spread of COVID-19. Martha has focused efforts on providing personal protective equipment to health care workers, providing consistent communication to the community offering best practices and up-to-date information to keep residents safe from COVID-19, increasing health department staffing levels to provide adequate case management and protecting vulnerable community members by organizing mass vaccination clinics. Kathy Moore, Public Health Muskegon County Kathy collaborated with community partners in the Muskegon area to make sure information was continuously available and accessible to members of her community. She has been able to respond to the area’s needs in a timely manner – taking calls early in the day to late at night. Kathy’s efforts included COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites, while being a source of accurate information for residents. Dr. Annette Mercatante, St. Clair County Health Department In St. Clair County, under the guidance and direction of Dr. Annette Mercatante, awareness of health equity, social determinants of health, adverse childhood events and convened communities (education, social services, substance use/prevention) increased. Additionally, her work with overdose and drug use has created a positive improvement within the St. Clair community as overdose numbers are declining. Her most compelling contributions are the community convening and conversations that are going on with groups aligning for similar missions to improve public health in a way that did not happen before Dr. Mercatante became both the public health officer and medical director 10 years ago. Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Mercatante has made herself available and accessible to community and business leaders. She coordinated vaccination clinics, carefully tracked COVID-19 cases, issued mask mandates when necessary and coordinated the day-to-day county-wide response to COVID-19. Dr. Mercatante has ensured support for her staff’s mental health needs, and genuinely cares for her community. She was named “Blue Water Woman Medical Professional of the Year” due to her exceptional efforts to improve public health over the last decade. 2022 Hometown Health Hero Award Winners Wil Cwikiel, Beaver Island Wil Cwikiel, superintendent-principal of Beaver Island Community Schools, advocated with the local health department for COVID-19 vaccine clinics on Beaver Island, helped the local health department and his rural health center coordinate the clinics and allowed the use of school facilities for COVID-19 and general vaccination clinics. Despite having only a small rural health center and no hospital, in addition to physical and distance barriers, 85.8% of Beaver Island residents are fully vaccinated. In addition to promoting these clinics, Cwikiel volunteered at many of those held at his school while handling his day-to-day responsibilities when school was in session. Need Our Water (NOW), Oscoda Need Our Water (NOW) is a grassroots community action group made up of volunteers who are interested in the cleanup and preservation of Oscoda area natural resources from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination and its harmful impacts to humans and wildlife. For more than five years, NOW has been working to increase awareness around PFAS in ground water and recreational waters and advocating for a health study or assessment that will add to the current research surrounding the health impacts caused by PFAS consumption and contamination. Maria Militzer, Washtenaw County Maria Militzer, president of Mexiquenses en Michigan, expanded their partnership with the Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) to address the community’s needs related to COVID-19, including access to vaccination and other resources. Advocates and activists connected with Mexiquenses en Michigan have lent their time, influence and resources to ensure that populations hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to vaccinations, personal protective equipment, including KN95 masks and transportation to vaccine appointments. The ongoing partnership with this organization ensures materials are made available in Spanish, and that interpreters and translators are consistently present at community clinics, often as volunteers. Since the beginning of the partnership with the WCHD, community-based COVID-19 vaccination clinics have been held in manufactured home communities, restaurants and places of worship in the areas most impacted by the pandemic. Jennifer Stambaugh, Gratiot County Jennifer Stambaugh has taken it upon herself to expand the services provided at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Gratiot County by adding tools and activities to the menu of services offered at the center. These include:
Veronica McNally, West Bloomfield Veronica McNally is an attorney by profession, but in her spare time is the Founder and Director of the Franny Strong Foundation and an integral partner in the I Vaccinate campaign. She also serves as the only consumer representative on the U.S. Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP). McNally has reviewed and guided vaccination surveys and focus groups that have gauged parents’ questions and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. She has used that input to ask questions and request data during the ACIP vaccination review process. McNally’s family launched the Franny Strong Foundation in honor of their daughter, and in 2016 they secured funding for what has become a revolutionary statewide public health campaign called I Vaccinate. The campaign is based on feedback from Michigan parents and bridges the knowledge gap between parents and health providers – providing parents with credible answers to their questions and the science-based information they need to protect their kids. This work led to her ACIP appointment, and her voice and experience have provided an invaluable perspective to the historic COVID-19 vaccine approval process. Kelly Hostetler, St. Joseph County In July 2021, Kelly Hostetler partnered with the St. Joseph County Health Commission’s Access to Healthcare Committee to design and execute a plan targeting the COVID-19 vaccination rate. The program provided COVID-19 vaccinations, free wellness screenings, a free dinner, $25 gift cards to local businesses for participants and vaccine hesitancy training to partnering agencies and community leaders. Hostetler also partnered with Swick Media to promote the clinics with pre-event advertising and day-of-event remote broadcasts. Through these efforts the vaccination rate improved to over 50% with one dose of vaccine by Oct. 3, 2021. Volunteer Contact Tracers for MDHHS This group of residents have served as volunteer COVID-19 contact tracers for MDHHS since May 2020. They dedicated more than 150 hours of their own time to help support contact tracing efforts before permanent staff were in place, and provided feedback on the technology and scripts and called thousands of people in Michigan about their COVID-19 status. These dedicated volunteers include: Ellen Ives Susan Morrel-Samuels Tim Reade Deborah Brunelle Patti Kelly Alice Schuman Amy Singer Dawn Ferran Elizabeth Anderson Karen Pfeffer Mary Ann Borton Richard Bauer Sarah Walsh Virginia Maturen John Bouck Karen McGrath Meresa Salisbury Amy Olszewski Karen Jennings Mary Lynam Barbara Byrne |
Whitmer, Gilchrist II Statements on Shooting of Patrick Lyoya
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 13, 2022 Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Gilchrist II Statements on Shooting of Patrick Lyoya
LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II issued the following statements on the shooting of Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
“The Lieutenant Governor and I spoke with Patrick’s family and our hearts are with them and the Grand Rapids community who are dealing with unimaginable pain and loss. Patrick was 26. He arrived in the United States as a refugee with his family fleeing violence. He had his whole life ahead of him. Patrick was a son, a dad of two young daughters, and an older brother to his five siblings.
“The Michigan State Police will conduct a transparent, independent investigation of the shooting. Then, prosecutors must consider all the evidence, follow the law, and take appropriate action on charges. Justice is foundational to safety, and without justice, we are all less safe.
“Patrick’s father asked me to convey his hope that any demonstrations in his son’s honor remain peaceful, and as Governor I share this view. We must come together and build a future where Black Michiganders are afforded equal rights, dignity, and safety in our communities. I will never stop fighting to make Michigan a more equitable and just state.”
Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II
“Governor Whitmer and I spoke to Patrick Lyoya’s family. They are feeling the deep pain that too many have felt, a terrible loss in a moment that feels all too sickeningly familiar. His father Peter described his son as a generous and caring man whom he wants to be remembered peacefully. Patrick was a loving father, a loyal friend, and a proud member of the Grand Rapids community who enjoyed sharing fellowship and culture with those around him.
“I am heartbroken by what we all have witnessed as a father, public servant, and a Black man. People are frustrated and hurting—searching for answers. Black people in Grand Rapids, in Michigan, and across the country are mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted from generations of struggle. Yet we press on. When we demonstrate and make our voices heard, we must do so in a way that lifts our call for justice beyond the deepening the pain of this community. We must never cease our efforts to reverse inequities, create systemic change, and guarantee justice for communities of color. We must recommit ourselves, through our words and deeds, to working together to build a more perfect union and a Michigan with equality and justice for all, where every interaction within our community, especially those with law enforcement, end with everyone able to return home to their families without harm.
“It is critical now to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to achieve justice, deliver accountability, and understand what happened, for Patrick Lyoya’s family as expeditiously as possible.” |
Oakland County hosting virtual job fair April 19
Opportunity Abounds at Oakland County Virtual Job Fair
- More than 75 positions are open in a variety of county departments.
- Applicants must pre-register for the virtual job fair.
- Available opportunities may be found at oakgov.com/jobs.
Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County is hosting a virtual job fair from 1-4 p.m. April 19 to fill more than 75 positions in county departments. Opportunities range from entry to senior level jobs in Parks and Recreation, Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, Workforce Development, Sheriff’s Office, Human Resources, and other departments.
“Oakland County is a great place to work with good pay and excellent benefits,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This virtual job fair provides a great opportunity to take the next step on your successful career path.”
The virtual job fair features full- and part-time, student, and intern positions. Pre-registration is required. To view available jobs and register, go to www.oakgov.com/jobs. There is no fee to register.
Some of the available jobs include campground worker, concession worker, construction inspector, corrections deputy, sheriff’s deputy, custodial worker, human resources analyst, office support clerk, and veterinary technician.
Oakland County offers a stable work environment, competitive salaries, a full benefits package, growth opportunities, employee training, and generous tuition reimbursement. The hard work and dedication of county employees is the driving force behind ensuring the county is in all ways, moving forward. Among the reasons why Oakland County is a great place to jump start a career are:
- A commitment to a diverse workforce;
- A culture where employees develop a sense of camaraderie that contributes to a low level of turnover and feel empowered to provide the best customer service;
- A beautifully landscaped, walkable campus;
- An award-winning employee wellness program;
- Leading-edge technology to assist employees in their day-to-day work;
- A AAA bond rating, the highest credit score attained by only a handful of the 3,000-plus counties in the U.S., which means the county’s finances are excellent.
Michigan’s Food and Agriculture Exports Sets Record-Breaking Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2022
Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Whitmer Announce Michigan’s Food and Agriculture Exports Sets Record-Breaking Year Totaling $2.5 Billion in 2021
LANSING, Mich. — Governor Whitmer today announced that Michigan food, agriculture, and forest products exports experienced a 19 percent year-over-year growth in 2021. Though business owners and farmers across the nation continued to adapt to global challenges in 2021, Michigan’s food and agriculture sector experienced success despite these challenges. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Michigan’s food and agriculture exports totaled $2.5 billion in 2021.
“Michigan’s food and agriculture industry is thriving with 19% annual growth and $2.5 billion in exports. It continues to uplift Michigan’s economy and make a local, national and global impact,” said Governor Whitmer. “Michigan’s agriculture industry is critical to expanding economic opportunities and creating more good-paying jobs for Michiganders. We will stay focused on investing in rural economic development, empowering farmers and agriculture businesses, and ensuring that the words ‘Made in Michigan’ are seen around the world.”
“I’m proud that Michigan’s food and agriculture production continues to thrive, and our reputation grows worldwide,” said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Gary McDowell. “Michigan food and agriculture diverse, high-quality products are well-known known globally. I’m excited as this industry continues to show the world what makes Michigan food and agriculture so special.”
Overall, processed food products ($437 million) represented the highest total value of Michigan’s exported food and agriculture products in 2021. This product category alone accounted for a $72 million increase over 2020 export totals. Other top product categories included soybean, sugar beet, and wheat byproducts ($304 million); dairy products ($234 million), wood products ($230 million); and edible meat products ($215 million).
Michigan consistently ranks as one of the most agriculturally diverse states in the nation resulting in a wide array of exported products ranging from bulk soybeans to dried fruit, pickles, and baked goods. Demand for these high-quality, dependable products continues to grow in local markets, online retailers, and supercenters across the globe.
“These annual export figures are a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication Michigan food and agriculture business put into their export efforts on a daily basis,” said Jamie Zmitko-Somers, MDARD’s Agriculture Development Division Director. “These businesses have been faced with supply chain disruptions, weather challenges, labor shortages, and more over the last year, yet they came through it all in tremendous fashion. We are excited to continue collaborating with the food and agriculture industry to grow our global footprint for years to come.”
Despite supply chain issues which impacted nearly every industry, Michigan companies saw an increase in the value of export across multiple international markets. This indicates demand for delicious, reliable Michigan food and agriculture remains strong despite delays in ingredient availability or shipping times.
In 2021, the top international markets for food and agriculture exports from Michigan were Canada ($1.19 billion), Mexico ($292 million), China ($168 million), South Korea ($163 million) and Japan ($146 million). These countries are often at or near the top as export destinations from Michigan.