April 1st, 2011
The Shepherd Journal
The Shepherd Journal is a semi-monthly printed copy
of the news, information, and other posts shared via
the website at http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com.
This printer-friendly newsletter can be downloaded,
forwarded to friends, or printed and handed out as
hard copies to customers. For more details, contact Jon
Morgan at 32bpwr3@gmail.com.
Garage Sales during the
Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival
Source: http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/garage-sales-
during-the-shepherd-maple-syrup-festival/
By 32bpwr3 on April 1st, 2011
If you are looking for another reason to visit Shepherd,
Michigan, during its annual Maple Syrup Festival, perhaps you
would be interested in one unofficial event which won’t be
listed on the brochure: garage sales. Village residents typically
open up their garage sales one or two days before the start of
the Festival, and then continue into the weekend.
I’ve walked away with a lot of good deals during the last couple
of Festivals. Last year I bought an iPod Nano, a personal-sized
trampoline for the kids, and a backpack. Past purchases have
included a 3-in-1 pool/ping pong/air hockey table, numerous
electronics, and a Nerf dart gun for my son.
I was wondering if you are planning on participating in the
garage saling tradition, either by holding a garage sale or
checking out a few for some good bargains.
Shepherd Today and the
Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival Six Things You Should Know
website are now on Twitter
Source: http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/shepherd-
today-and-the-shepherd-maple-syrup-festival-website-are-now-on-twitter/ Syrup Festival
By 32bpwr3 on April 1st, 2011
Mid-Michigan residents might be interested to know that two
local sources for curated news and information are now on
Twitter. Posts from the two year old Facebook Community
Page called “Shepherd Today” can now be followed on Twitter
under the hashtag #shprdtdy, and posts for the Shepherd
Maple Syrup Festival can be followed under the hashtag
#smsf53.
Both Twitter streams are being managed under my account on
Twitter which is “jnmrgn.”
Longer, more detailed information about the Shepherd Maple
Syrup Festival can be found on the official website or the
community page inside Facebook.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at
32bpwr3@gmail.com.
Published by: 32bpwr3
Local Shepherd Teen working
to repair Syrup Festival Signs
Source: http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/local-
shepherd-teen-featured-in-the-morning-sun-article/
By 32bpwr3 on April 1st, 2011
Today the Morning Sun ran a story about Levi Smith, a Boy
Scout in Shepherd who is working on the replacement of the
two Maple Syrup Festival signs that are next to the expressway.
Levi has been raising money and coordinating the project with
the goal of having the signs ready before this year’s Maple
Syrup Festival.
Check out the story “Scout hopes to get new sign for
Shepherd.”
Video from 2010 Syrup
Festival – “104.3 WCZY at
the Shepherd Maple Syrup
Festival”
Source: http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/video-
from-2010-syrup-festival-wczy-at-the-shepherd-maple-syrup-festival/
By 32bpwr3 on April 1st, 2011
Here is a video montage I found on YouTube from 104.3
WCZY. The footage was shot during last year’s Shepherd
Maple Syrup Festival (2010).
about the Shepherd Maple
Source: http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/six-things-you-
should-know-about-the-shepherd-maple-syrup-festival/
By 32bpwr3 on April 1st, 2011
Here are six of the latest stories from the Shepherd Maple
Syrup Festival Website. Stay tuned to the official SMSF
website for future news and updates, or join the community
page on Facebook.
Heart of Michigan Clowns – Children’s Village
The Heart of Michigan Clowns will be entertaining at the
Children’s Village on Saturday, April 30th, from Noon to 5:00
p.m. They are looking for volunteers to help with the games
while they entertain the children with balloons, skits, magic,
puppets and more!
Arts & Craft Sale
1
April 1st, 2011 Published by: 32bpwr3

The Shepherd United Methodist Church is hosting an Arts &
Craft Sale during the Maple Syrup Festival. There will be a
number of arts & craft exhibitors selling their hand made arts
and craft item.
Silverware Wrapping Bee
Volunteers are needed to help wrap the silverware that will be
used for the pancake, maple syrup, and sausage meals.
Childrens Village
Volunteers are needed to help run the games at the Children’s
Village. Volunteers should be 10 years or older
Festival Pageant
The 48th Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival Pageant will take
place on Saturday, April 9th in a private interviewing session
with 5 contestants.
Train Rides – Shepherd to Mt. Pleasant
On Saturday April 30th a train will depart the Shepherd Train
Depot and run to the Mountain Town Station Depot in Mt.
Pleasant.
Shepherd Elementary School
Dedication
of Shepherd Journal, Shepherd Today, or other Twitter users
from central Michigan.
The Shepherd Journal will also be available as print-ready
publication which you can view or share online, or print and
distribute on paper. Finally, the Shepherd Journal can be
viewed from almost any mobile device or smartphone.
Types of Content
The Shepherd Journal will continue to provide readers with
the information that was posted onto Shepherd Today in the
past, except the blog format will allow us to go a little more in-
depth. The Journal is also community-based, so anybody who
wants to can contribute it. The Shepherd Journal will truly be
written for the community and by the community of Shepherd.
Your help is needed
As in the past, I’m looking for people who are willing to
help me out with this new endeavour. I need writers, editors,
photographers, and community coordinators who are willing
to help pitch in and collaborate on the blog or the Facebook
fan page. If you representative an organization or business,
perhaps you have a special event or announcement that you
were thinking about sharing with the public–if so, consider
posting it inside the Shepherd Journal so that it can be shared
through this unique publication!

Source: http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/shepherd- It is very easy to become a contributor. Simply go to http://

elementary-school-dedication/ shepherdjournal.wordpress.com, click “Departments,” and
By 32bpwr3 on April 1st, 2011 “Join the Team.” You will be taken to a page where you can
complete and submit a form. If you have a news tip you would
Here are some photos from the Shepherd Elementary School like to share, check out our other very easy form.
Dedication and building tour.
I’m also looking for your thoughts about the blog. Does it offer
enough, or are there things missing? Send your feedback to me
via email at 32bpwr3@gmail.com.
Introducing the “Shepherd
Journal”
Source: http://shepherdjournal.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/introducing-
the-shepherd-journal/
By 32bpwr3 on April 1st, 2011

I’m happy to announce the release of a brand-new blog which

I hope will complement the Shepherd Today community page
on Facebook, and provide the community with a resource for
news, information, and communication. The blog is called The
Shepherd Journal, and although it is technically a blog, I’m
hoping to turn it into something much bigger.
What is the Shepherd Journal?
The Shepherd Journal will be a cross between a news site, blog,
and a information curation site like Delicious or Stumbleupon.
A lot of the material will be original, but there will also be
summaries posted on the site which pulls together information
from different sources. I am also planning on linking to photo
galleries, video playlists, and other types of media so that
Shepherd residents will have a place to go when they want to
know what’s happening in and around their community.
Articles on the Shepherd Journal will also be posted on the
Facebook community page Shepherd Today, where there are
already 507 fans with more signing up each day. I’ve also
started a list on Twitter where anybody can follow the activities