UNITE's Arrive Alive Tour reveals distracted driving dangers to students and community

The Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Criminal Justice students recently joined UNITE – a national company that works to prevent unsafe driving behaviors – in educating their classmates, Mid Michigan Community College (MMCC) students, and community members about the potential consequences of drunk and distracted driving through the Arrive Alive Tour.  

The program used a number of resources to heighten awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and texting while driving, including a high-tech simulator that allowed participants to sit in the “driver’s seat” and experience the outcomes of distracted and impaired driving in a controlled environment. A Passenger-Eye-View monitor gave those standing near the simulator the chance to see what the driver was experiencing. Each participant also received a mock ticket that explained the ramifications of their simulator experience. “Most students thought that they would be able to whip right through the simulator course,” said DJ Newman, Criminal Justice instructor. “However, most of them failed within seconds.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers younger than 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.

Additionally, the Criminal Justice students spent time in classrooms of their peers to further enforce the dangers of these illegal driving behaviors by sharing statistics and facts, and conducting mock sobriety tests. During the tests, the other students wore goggles that replicated how their vision would be impacted if impaired.

Approximately 300 people participated in the day’s activities.

The Arrive Alive Tour event was made possible by the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, MMCC, MidMichigan Health, the Clare County Sheriff's Department, the Clare County Prosecutor's Office, and the Clare City Police Department.

More than 530 local children celebrate National Food Day

On Oct. 24, more than 530 children in the Clare-Gladwin RESD S.P.A.R.K.S. program, local preschool classrooms, and local daycare programs celebrated National Food Day; an annual initiative that aims to promote safe, healthful diets, and supports sustainable organic farming.

Made possible by the Clare-Gladwin Health Improvement Planning Committee (a subgroup of Together We Can) in collaboration with the Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative, Clare-Gladwin RESD, and MidMichigan Health, this year’s Food Day focused on food education. Activities and lessons incorporated in the event encouraged children to know where their food comes from, how to cook meals, and how doing so will give them a big advantage when it comes to being healthy and avoiding health problems in the future.

Participants received a Food Day activity book, and each classroom and daycare program was given a copy of a book developed by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture titled, “The Two Bite Club,” which teaches kids to try foods from each food group.

Additionally, some groups explored the mission of National Food Day further with hands-on activities.

Children in various daycare programs created a pumpkin dip and integrated locally grown pumpkins into an art project, while S.P.A.R.K.S. students cooked multiple dishes that incorporated locally grown, healthy fruits or vegetables. For example, students from the Harrison Elementary S.P.A.R.K.S. site made homemade salsa from the tomatoes they planted themselves in the school garden last summer.

“National Food Day helped to educate our students on three things – healthy food can be economical, easily accessible, and it can be found locally,” said S.P.A.R.K.S. Director Keri Retzloff. “With our county health ranking being among the lowest in the state, S.P.A.R.K.S. is trying to promote and educate students on living a healthier lifestyle, including more exercise and eating a healthy diet. This day fit in nicely!” 

The students’ recipes will be used in a future S.P.A.R.K.S. cookbook.  Funds raised from cookbook sales will be used toward a backpack program that addresses food security for children in Clare and Gladwin counties.  

“We participated in National Food Day because we thought the information would be wonderful for the young children in our community,” said Sarah Kile of the Clare-Gladwin Health Improvement Planning Committee. “This year’s celebration was a big success and we look forward to bringing the program to kids again next year.” 

Approximately 600 attend Worldwide Day of Play

Around 600 children and parents ran, danced, skated, created, and explored at the first annual Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 20 at the shared campus of the Isabella Community Sportsplex and the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum.   

Shayla McArthur, a student volunteer at  
MidMichigan Medical Center-Clare  
helps a child pick out a free helmet  
at the first annual Worldwide Day of Play. 

Organized by the Clare-Gladwin and Gratiot-Isabella Great Start Collaboratives as well as representatives from Morey Courts, the Discovery Museum, the ICE Arena, MidMichigan Health, and the Central Michigan District Health Department, the Worldwide Day of Play featured free activities for parents and kids to enjoy together, including Zumba, ice skating with free rentals, and hands-on fun at the museum. Morey Courts also used a portion of their facilities to host basketball, volleyball, ball toss games, and an obstacle course set up by the Health Department.  

MidMichigan Health provided 300 bike helmets to local kids, as well as 1,000 fruit snacks and 500 bottles of water. Additionally, 200 apples were donated by Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, and GreenTree Cooperative Grocery handed out 500 samples of healthy smoothies blended by bicycle power!

“This was an awesome event,” said local parent Autume Griffus. “The activities accommodated multiple age levels and they kept kids moving and engaged. We will definitely be back next year!”

Emulating Nickelodeon’s annual Worldwide Day of Play which shuts down television programming for a day to encourage kids to get off the couch and get active, the evening of action emphasized the multitude of benefits play provides in the lives of children. “The Worldwide Day of Play not only supports physical health, but it also encourages social and emotional well-being and family support, all of which are proven to be vital in preparing children to be happy and ready to succeed in school and in life,” said Clare-Gladwin Great Start Parent Liaison Rachel Haltiner. “We wanted families to have the chance to spend time moving, laughing, and learning together while getting familiar with the resources in their area so they will hopefully come back to visit in the future.” 

Local public service agencies, including the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Fire Department, Isabella County Sheriff’s Department, Mount Pleasant Department of Public Works, Mobile Medical Response, and Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation were also in attendance to showcase their vehicles and interact with the kids. 

Chippewa River District Library and Eileen DeLorenzo also supported the Worldwide Day of Play.

“A special thanks to the organizations and 46 volunteers who contributed so much of their time and resources to make this event possible,” said Jennifer Fields of the Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum. “Horns sounded, sirens sung, and children played - it was a very successful first annual Worldwide Day of Play!”

A child takes the driver’s seat in  
one of the many service vehicles available  
for kids to explore at the Worldwide Day of Play.