Cheboygan officials salute police officer, garden club for longevity
CHEBOYGAN — Longevity can signify many things including sustained excellence, persistence and determination. A retired police officer and a civic organization were recently recognized for longevity by the Cheboygan City Council.
At the Sept. 13 meeting, council approved a resolution of special recognition for retired Cheboygan Police Officer Joseph Derry and a mayoral proclamation saluting the 50-year history of the Seedums Garden Club.
Sgt. Ron White of the police department said Deery was an exemplary officer for over 30 years.
"He was our lead investigator when it came to felony crimes and high-profile misdemeanors," White said. "Joe was a good officer to work with. Once he had a case presented to him, he stayed on it from start to finish."
"The Cheboygan Police Department wishes him the best in the future. Also try not to do too much fishing and hunting," he said in jest.
The Seedums Garden Club began in 1972, according to current club president Sue Cleary.
"The founder was (the late) Eleanor Charles and she started out with 12 members," Cleary said. "They met at each other's homes and they discussed various things they could do to beautify Cheboygan."
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Cleary said there have been 22 presidents since the club started. She added that the main goals for the club include promoting a love of gardening, floral and landscape design and to be active in civic and environmental issues.
The club meets at 9:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month from April through December at the Cheboygan Public Library.
The club maintains gardens in various locations around Cheboygan including in back of the old jail where the historical museum is located at Court and Huron streets. Members look after three gardens in the space - a perennial flower garden, a rose garden and an herb garden.
"The deer were eating the buds off the roses (in the rose garden) and this year we installed a fence around it. We went three feet and the deer were still able to jump over that. So we had to go to an 8-foot fence," said Cleary.
The club also maintains gardens at Washington Park, Festival Square, the Opera House and the hospice house, she added.
Cleary said Seedums is also a member of the Michigan Garden Clubs and the National Garden Clubs. Those interested in joining the club can attend a meeting or contact membership chair Cindy Cartmill at (231) 625-2127.
Cheboygan Mayor Leslie Tebo did not respond to a request from the Daily Tribune to comment on Deery and the garden club.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan City Council salutes police officer, garden club for longevity
