noAa AND GO:;S .BOOiC BIHD3tt3 3 PAP.5X3- 4* » spaiaapoar, IUCH. 4?*id4 116th Year, No. 5 ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1971 36 Pages 15 CENTS man held in rder case Smith resigns Body found in driveway ST, JOHNS-Authoritles continue to re­ Dexter has Until Wednesday to select fuse the release of details surrounding the a lawyer to represent him. If he doesn't arrest of a rural St. Johns man Saturday choose one, the court will appoint an DeWitt finally hires on a charge of first degree murder. attorney. The Clinton County Sheriff's Department William T. y Dexter, 31, Green Road, has sent a 22-callber rifle and bags of was arrested Saturday night in connection physical evidence to Michigan'State Police ity ad mini with the death of William Joseph Herrman, Crime Lab at East Lansing for analysis. 40, 7511 S. Chandler Road. Sheriff deputies said Herrmann's body By PAT DROUIN resigned hours prior to his official appoint­ Patrick Kelly, Clinton County prosecuting was found in the driveway of the Dexter News Special Writer ment by the Council May 24. attorney, said that he would rather not home and that he had been shot twice with Smith, who has-held the jobfortwoyears, talk about the motive, because It is "the a 22-callber rifle. De WITT—After two months of searching, dispelled runors that his resignation was guts of the case". He indicated that the According to reports, Dexter called a the city of DeWitt has named a Wixom, due to pressure from the Council or any motive would come out in the examination Laingsburg ambulance service that the Mich., man to fill the vacancy of Eldon other outside forces. to be held tentatively, June 10. man's body was in his driveway and after Smith, resigning administrative director, "When I took the Job, I agreed to work "We will be ready by that date," Kelly that police were notified. He is an Olds- Robert Case, 43, has tentatively con­ for two years," Smith said. "A pattern said. mobile employee and was Jailed without firmed his acceptance of the position, needed to be established In order to show bond. pending formal appointment by the City that voluntary work could not handle the Judge Roland Duguay set June 10 as Council on June 7. problems that arise." the tentative examination date. Case has been assessor and assistant A former Councilman and Mayor of Mr. Herrman had been a truck driver to the mayor at Wixom for the past three DeWitt, Smith will resume his job at the for the Ashland Chemical Co. in Lansing years. Farm Bureau Services as a securities for 15 years. salesman. The search for a new director began Surviving are three sons, Joseph W., April 5, when Smith presented his resig­ During his term as administrative Robert M. and Mark A,; four brothers, nation to the City Council with an effective director, Smith noted the greatest challenge Joseph M, of Ft, Wayne, Ind., Jerome date of June 1. was coping with the rapid growth and B. of David, Ky,, and James A. and Eugene After screening 18 applicants forthejob, development within the city and immediate N., both of Lansing; and a sister, Mrs, one applicant was tentatively hired, but area. Rita Brock of Lansing, "Even more challenging, for the next director, will be the development of the |St. Johns compares! Master Plan," Smith said. Included in this plan are new zoning areas, growth of possible commercial busi­ favorably nesses and a revitalizing of the business district through parking facilities and visual WILLIAM T. DEXTER ST. JOHNS-There are 17 School Districts attractiveness. In Michigan which have total enrollments In At a dinner in his honor, May 27, town grades K-12 of between 4000 and 4499 officials, Mayor Lawrence Keck and his students. St, Johns Is one of them. wife and the members of the City Council The table below Indicates how St. Johns and their wives, presented Smtih with a Absentee compares to other schools in the group. fishing box and tackle. Figures were taken from Bulletin No. 1011 Dorothy Keck, city clerk, said that his published by the State Department of Educa­ resignation came as a complete surprise. ST. JOHNS—Absentee voter ballots can tion and are for the year 1969-70 since "Everyone , enjoyed working with him," be picked up at the St. Johns school super­ figures for the current year are not yet Mrs. Keck said, * and despite the problems intendent's office anytime from 7;30 a,m. See Seotr#£ G completed. that came up, he always looked forward to 4:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, June 12, The school election is set for June 14, Instruction - 75.69% (average for the 17 to the next day." schools); 74.49% (St. Johns average). Administration - 3.97% (average for the 17 schools); 3.27% (St. Johns average). Health Services - .31% (average for the 17 schools); .58% (St. Johns average). Transportation - 4.69% (average for the 17 schools); 6.35% (St. Johns average). Continued on Page 2A . Meeting called to present Bath candidates, issues BATH—A special public, meeting has been called for June 9 by school'officials to present the eight candidates running for two school board seats and answer REMEMBER THEM questions about the millage proposal. The meeting, beginning at 8 p.m. in the John Hall sounds taps as a final tribute to the high school cafeteria, will center on the 18-mlli operational continuation issue., fallen during Memorial Day ceremonies at the Mount Roger Carlson, school superintendent, Rest cemetery Thursday evening. 'Hall is connected will introduce the eight candidates seeking election on the June 14 ballot. They are with the Edwin *T. Stiles American Legion post in James Cramer,William Fouch, Nina Flneis, St. Johns. Gerald Feguer, Cleo Friend Sr., Marilyn Markham, Claude Vail and Maude Martin. Two cents a day specia I ed ST, JOHNS—It Is worth two cents a children with special problems in our parent whose child has been helped by day for residents of Clinton County to county," 'any of these programs. " have Special Education for their chil­ Diagnosticians, social workers, a con­ dren? sultant for the mentally handicapped, speech "UNDER PRESENT circumstances itwlll This was one of the many questions therapists, a homebound teacher, 19 rooms be impossible to continue even the present discussed by the Friends of special Ed­ for' the educable mentally handicapped and level of services or even consider pro­ ucation Committee at their meeting Tues­ two rooms for the trainable mentally han­ viding other very much needed programs," day. dicapped, served 1352 children with special "Special-Education immediate needs are; The committee has sent out a letter problems In the 1969-70 school year. two more social workers to work' with HUP, TWO,THREEtFOUR... to .voters in the county outlining the need *More children need these services be­ children, parents and teachers, an ad­ for an Increase of three-quarters of a cause today everything costs more. Schools ditional teacher-consultant for the men­ St. Johns citizens line the streets mill that will be on the ballot June 14, .that were operating on 8.5 mills in 1960 tally handicapped who need vocational various city veterans associations. The The letter In part stated, "Since 1960, now average 25 mills just to keep even. guidance and work experience, a pro­ of Clinton Avenue Thursday night for the march concluded at Mount Rest cemetery the Clinton County Intermediate School "Special Education is a vital and es­ gram to provide for the emotionally dis­ annual Memorial Day parade, led by this for the memorial services, District has been operating on three- sential part of our total public education turbed children," ( quarters of a mill to service all the program in Clinton County. Ask any Continued on Page 3A Color Guard, Comprised of units from the Photos by ED CHEENEY #:%:#:::%#^^ IS PLANNING SOMETHING SPECIAL JUNE 10 •ftr Page 2 A CLINTON COUNTY NEWS, St Johns, Michigan Wednesday, June 2, 1971 Continued Fixed charees - 2.86% (average for the school. the challenges of the present and the from grades K-12 as any similar community 17 schools); 2.78% (St. Johns average). studies (history, and geography), mathe­ St. Johns from Page One Also, having five elementary schools to future. The curriculum, of the St, Johns in Michigan. ' matics and health are other basic classes. Operation of Plant - 10.01% (average for The only place where St. Johns is signif­ which students must be transported adds Schools reflects these changes, many of Elementary icantly higher is In transportation - 1.66% to the transportation cost.. < which have occurred during the past two Vocal music is taught twice weekly in the 17 schools); 10.14% (SU Johns average). Instruction in the elementary school grades 1-6. Art is taught once a week in \ ' Maintenance - 2.47% (average for the 17 more. 'This is understandable because the Because of changes In the'American way years. ,, ( covers all the basic areas of instruction. district covers over 200 square miles and of living school curriculae and programs grades 5 and 6 and once every 2 weeks schools); 2.39% (St. Johns average). The St. Johns Public Schools probably Language arts includes reading, writing, in grades 1-4. over half of the students ride buses to need to be changed and up-dated to meet , spelling and speaking. Science, social offers as complete an educational program Students who wish to begin band may do so In the 6th grade while orchestra begins in the 5 th grade.