January 30, 2008 04:47 pm Bear sightings prompt warnings CADILLAC (Sept. 1) — Black bears are on the move in Wexford County, seeking new food sources as they prepare for hibernation. A number of the animals have been seen in the Cadillac area, prompting warnings from the U.S. Forest Service to keep bird and animal feed, and trash, in secure areas. "When looking for food, bears go to places they found food they liked," Forest Service spokeswoman Carol Nilsson said. "So, if the acorn crop is bad, they go to houses and get into bird feeders, garbage or pet food. If the acorn crop is good, they won't." Bears typically feed on berries and nuts. People should stay in the house if they see a bear, and never approach one, especially if food is involved, Nilsson said. Family-owned company runs dam ELK RAPIDS (Sept. 2) — A couple of Stockhausens charged to the rescue when it came time for Antrim County officials to take stock in the Elk Lake dam. The county turned over operation of the dam near downtown Elk Rapids to Elk Rapids Hydroelectric Power, a family-owned company operated by Bill Stockhausen and his son, Stock. The family's hobby-turned-passion for operating small hydroelectric dams is a perfect fit for Antrim County, where officials wanted to keep the dam operating but didn't have the expertise to do so. Stockhausen, who lives in the Detroit suburb of Northville, is a retired engineer from Ford Motor Co. He got into the small-scale power business 25 years ago when his family restored an old mill in Bellevue, north of Battle Creek, and installed hydroelectric generation equipment there. He also does consulting work on other small dams around Michigan. "This has kind of been my second career," he said. For 50th, Mighty Mac draws a crowd MACKINAW CITY (Sept. 4) — The walkers, they came in droves. They woke up early, boarded buses and took the congestion along the Mackinac Bridge's five miles in strides. The annual bridge walk was an historic occasion for locals to bask in the bridge's 50th birthday with tourists. By late afternoon, an estimated 57,000 people and counting made the Labor Day pilgrimage over the Michigan landmark that connects the state's two peninsulas. "Every time I see the bridge, I'm in awe," said Julie Lindholm, of Gaylord, who has crossed the Straits span 29 times on foot. The Caring Skies TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 5) — When miles and money stand between people and medical care, Wings of Mercy of West Michigan flies them where they need to go. The non-profit and its volunteer pilots and airplane owners have been taxiing patients to specialized medical care in places like the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.; the Cleveland Clinic; or University of Wisconsin medical staff in Madison, Wisc. The patients may go for an operation, a scan or a number of other procedures from complicated to relatively simple. "They could go for a shot; any treatment that's not available locally," said Mark Evans, who helped the Traverse City contingent get off the runway in the mid-1990s as a dispatch location of the group based in Holland. "I've been on missions to the Dakotas." Many of the flights are pre-planned, though pilots may have to sprint to the hangar at any time. "We're on call 24-7 and occasionally get a call in the middle of the night," Evans said. He estimates he takes 20 to 30 flights per year. Commission votes to demolish zoo TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 5) — Many remnants of the city's closed Clinch Park Zoo will be razed, including animal exhibits and an administration office. City commissioners approved 6-0 a $73,022 demolition contract to tear down most of the structures at the bayfront location. Structures to be saved include the historic Con Foster building, the rest rooms and concession area, a wishing well and a barn. The bear, wolf and hoof stock exhibits will be removed as well as an office the National Cherry Festival wanted to use as its headquarters. City Manager Richard Lewis said the decision to demolish the office building was based on an architectural assessment. One concern posed: How to get rid of animal smells that permeated the structure. "It was considered functionally obsolete," Lewis said. Kirtland's warbler comeback continues GRAYLING (Sept. 6) — The comeback keeps on coming. State officials announced a continued increase in population for the endangered Kirtland's warbler, a bird species that returns each spring to nest in northern Michigan's jack pine forests. Biologists, researchers and volunteers counted 1,697 singing males during this summer's survey period. That's more than 200 additional birds counted over last year's figure of 1,478 males, while 1,415 were counted in 2005. This year's census marks another all-time high in Michigan, the largest number since monitoring began in 1951. The lowest numbers were recorded in 1974 and 1987, when just 167 singing males were found. Contract approved for city attorney TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 6) — Deputy city attorney Karrie Zeits struck a deal with the city to become its new chief legal adviser. City commissioners unanimously approved a contract with Zeits for a full-time, in-house city attorney position. She will move over Sept. 28 from the local firm of Sondee, Racine & Doren, where she assisted outgoing city attorney W. Peter Doren in representing the city. Zeits will make $65,000 a year and be eligible for "incentive raises" for labor arbitration and work for Traverse City Light & Power. Doren remains the attorney for the city utility, but Zeits can earn raises if she does work billed to Light & Power. Her in-house hiring is a shift from the city's contractual agreement with Doren's firm and will save more than $50,000 annually, estimated Commissioner Chris Bzdok. Alken-Ziegler to cut 20-30 positions KALKASKA (Sept. 7) — Alken-Ziegler will cut the workforce at its manufacturing plant here, citing rising costs to truck steel for its parts to northern Michigan. Company officials wouldn't specify how many jobs at the 80-worker plant will be relocated to the Detroit area, but village President Virginia Thomas said she expects at least 20 to 30 local positions will be lost. The company also has operations in Taylor and Livonia. Plant manager Matt Shepherd said the company is still working on its consolidation plan and he expects to announce a specific number of job cuts within the next week or two. Village officials expressed disappointment, but said the loss is tempered by word that some jobs
will remain. Winery wins Ind. shipping lawsuit TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 8) — Chalk up another courtroom win for Michigan wineries looking to ship their products to other states. A federal judge in Indiana struck down the Hoosier state's regulations on direct wine shipping in a lawsuit against the state's Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Chateau Grand Traverse winery and a group of Indiana wine enthusiasts filed the suit. "It's really changed the law in Indiana," said Ed O'Keefe, of Chateau Grand Traverse in Peninsula Township, a leading voice in direct-shipping disputes across the country. Indiana passed its shipping law in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling two years ago that struck down laws in Michigan and New York that prohibited out-of-state vineyards from making direct sales to consumers. Direct wine sales have soared in recent years because of the Internet and the growing popularity of wine tours. City signs $25K deal with EDC TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 8) — The city will pay more but potentially gain more from the Traverse Bay Economic Development Corporation. City commissioners inked a $25,000, one-year contract with the EDC to expand economic development services in Traverse City. The EDC charged the city $10,000 a year since 1989. City Manager Richard Lewis said the new contract marks a departure from a previous focus on manufacturing. The EDC now will sweep a broader eye across all economic sectors and will prepare an economic development strategy for the city. Tippy Dam to join state parks system BRETHREN (Sept. 9) — Fishermen increasingly flock to Tippy Dam Boating Access Site and rustic campground, managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. State officials intend to change the site designation from boating access to a state recreation area, making it part of Michigan's state parks system. That means visitors will need a state park, rather than a state boating access, sticker from now on. Both cost $24, or $6 for daily passes. Rebecca Humphries, DNR director, will decide whether to add the boat launch to the list of state recreation areas. She will discuss the proposed change and announce her decision at the Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing. Map readers could notice an accompanying change in symbols on future maps, said Bob Felt, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation. Oil men ready to go on treasure hunt TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 9) — Three Traverse City oil men are on a treasure hunt that for two centuries seduced men with the promise of untold riches while delivering death, destruction and an enduring mystery. Marty Lagina, Craig Tester and Alan J. Kostrzewa have done pretty well drilling for oil and gas and hope to combine that experience with modern technology to solve the mystery of Oak Island, Nova Scotia — or just walk away. The Traverse City threesome, along with Lagina's brother Rick and longtime Oak Island treasure hunter and resident Dan Blankenship, have joined a list of treasure hunters that include such notables as a young Franklin D. Roosevelt and actor John Wayne. "At one point, we are really excited; this is one of the great treasure hunts of all time," Lagina said. Tester said he's more than 50 percent sure there is treasure, while Lagina is the biggest skeptic of the group. "There's just enough evidence that there is something significant," he said. "But I want to see it for myself." Century-old ship discovered TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 10) — Shipwreck explorers have discovered the century-old gravesite of the Cyprus, an ore carrier that sank mysteriously during a Lake Superior storm less than two months after it was launched. All but one of 23 crew members died in the Oct. 11, 1907, disaster. A team with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the wreckage last month about 460 feet beneath the surface, said Tom Farnquist, the group's executive director. The searchers at first thought they had found another freighter, the D.M. Clemson — the target of their quest, which sank the year after the Cyprus. But an underwater robot equipped with video and still cameras spotted the Cyprus' name on the stern. The 420-foot-long ship is about 8 miles north of Deer Park, a village in Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula. Bertha Vos group sues TCAPS TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 11) — A parents' group filed suit against Traverse City Area Public Schools, and accused the district of an "arbitrary and unreasonable" decision to close Bertha Vos Elementary after the 2007-08 school year. Save Bertha Vos, Inc.'s membership includes several parents who've pulled their children from TCAPS in favor of Mill Creek Elementary in Elk Rapids Schools. The group filed suit in Grand Traverse County Circuit Court and also sought temporary and permanent restraining orders against TCAPS. Superintendent James Feil said the lawsuit will not change the fate of Bertha Vos. Going Solo GREILICKVILLE (Sept. 11) — With the help of scores of volunteers and community support, the Pathfinder School is blazing a bright trail through the changing forest around them. The school opened independently after an uncertain future when Interlochen Center for the Arts — its operator since the new millenium — decided to close the school last year. "We're simply returning to our roots as a school," said Bob Barrett, Pathfinder's head of school. "Pathfinder School ran for years and years independently, and, after a seven-year partnership with Interlochen, we are now returning to our roots." Pathfinder is now operating as an educational nonprofit. The Grand Vision TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 12) — There were more people than seats and that had visioning expert Robert Grow almost bouncing on his toes. "People have shown a tremendous amount of energy and interest," Grow said. "They are ready for this opportunity." The opportunity was the kickoff of the $1.35 million land use and transportation study dubbed The Grand Vision project. The project is designed to be a citizen-led discussion to establish community values, a vision for the future and implementation strategies. Grow, one of the consultants leading the study, said they are predicting the region will grow 60 percent by 2030 and add 40,000 homes outside of Traverse City. "This is serious business about the future of your region," he said. New outdoor market opening TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 13) — Artisans, crafters and other vendors will join local farmers at the town's newest outdoor market. The City Market is located at the Railway Station on Eighth Street and Woodmere Avenue, and will be open on Saturdays and Wednesdays. "I was born in Great Britain, and it was a customary practice for all the merchants on Saturday mornings to move out to the stones," said Ella Cooper, an employee of Pithy Corp., which owns and operates the railway station buildings. The station can hold up to 80 vendors and has about 500 feet of covered area, she said. Food will be a main attraction, but she hopes to also offer arts, crafts, antiques and booths for nonprofit organizations. Cherry harvest comes in low TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 13) — The tart cherry industry will put more fruit on the open market this fall in hopes that its expanded cherry marketing campaign will spur additional sales. Final marketing percentages for this year's 248.5 million pound tart cherry crop were set in Washington, D.C. by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board, the national marketing body for tart cherries. Executive director Perry Hedin said industry officials are encouraged by this year's harvest because it's lower than the expected bumper crop of nearly 300 million pounds, and because sales of tart cherry products are up in some areas. Glenn LaCross, owner and president of Leelanau Fruit processing along M-22 south of Suttons Bay, said he's happy with this year's crop because it was less than anticipated, meaning markets won't be overwhelmed with too much fruit. Trustee is new supervisor ACME (Sept. 14) — Acme Township Trustee Wayne Kladder is now in the hot seat. Kladder was chosen from three finalists — and 11 total applicants — to become Acme Township supervisor until November 2008. The township board's vote was unanimous, though Kladder abstained. Kladder, 62, retired in June from Traverse City Central High School after 30 years of teaching. He's been a trustee since 2004. "I thought after I retired I would get more involved with the Acme board but I never expected to get this involved," Kladder said. Kladder will replace Bill Kurtz, who resigned citing stress tied to ongoing litigation over two major development disputes along M-72. The proposed developments divided the community and led to an unsuccessful recall attempt against the entire board. Kladder said his first goal is to get people talking again in an effort to reduce animosity between the opposing sides. Brauer snags Balki for project TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 14) — Comic actor Bronson Pinchot, who earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the 1980s sitcom "Perfect Strangers," will star in an upcoming film by Traverse City's Brauer Productions. The movie, titled "Mr. Art Critic," is the story of a Chicago-based reviewer who regularly savages artists and their works and ends up in front of the easel in an attempt to prove a point. Filmmaker Rich Brauer plans to shoot the movie first in Traverse City for a day-and-a-half before moving production to Mackinac Island for three weeks. Shooting will then move to Chicago for a few outdoor shots. Brauer wrote the screenplay after someone representing Mackinac Island invited him to do a movie there, he said. Pinchot is probably best remembered for playing Balki Bartokomous, the naive shepherd from the fictional country of Mypos, who immigrated to America in the TV comedy "Perfect Strangers," which ran from 1986-93. He's had dozens of other television and movie appearances, including parts in "Beverly Hills Cop," "Risky Business," "True Romance" and Martin Scorsese's "After Hours." Recall petiton denied by court TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 15) — An effort to recall Traverse City Area Public Schools board President Gerald Morris is in limbo after the county's election commission deemed as unclear a petition's language. John Kerkhof, a Williamsburg parent who filed the recall petition, now must decide whether to proceed and submit a new proposal or drop it. The initial petition contained four clauses, three of which alleged Morris violated the "fiduciary and legal responsibilities entrusted to him" by supporting the intended closure of Bertha Vos, Glenn Loomis and Norris elementaries; attempted to "stifle the views of dissenting board members who did not agree with the school closure proposal;" and acted with "blatant disregard for public opinion" during the process. Election commissioners took issue with the latter clause, saying it was too general an accusation when the others were more specific. Chefs are the stars TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 15) — Chef and PBS cooking star Marcel Biro stepped into the demonstration kitchen at the Traverse Epicurean Classic and put his audience on notice. If you participate, you get an extra big portion of the sample recipe. If you don't, you get to wash dishes. Biro, dressed in his black chef's uniform, brought with him impressive kitchen credentials, including being one of the youngest chefs to attain the title Master Chef de Cuisine. But the native of Germany endeared himself to his audience with understated, good-natured humor. Biro is one of the better-known chefs to appear at the fourth annual Classic at the Great Lakes Campus of Northwestern Michigan College. The event is expected to draw 3,500 people over three days. Celebrities are not the main focus, unlike some other food festivals, organizers said. Instead, the Classic is a cookbook festival, a mass book-signing jazzed up with wine, cooking classes and chef dinners. Forest program to change ELMIRA (Sept. 16) — Jane Gray recently inherited 80 acres of densely wooded land nearby her decades-old farmhouse, but new state rules have her feeling hamstrung over what she can and can't do with the valuable property. Her inherited Antrim County timberland is enrolled in the Michigan Commercial Forest program, which in two weeks will see big changes in how withdrawal penalties are calculated. It's the effect of legislation approved a year ago, and Gray wants others in the program to know it could cost them a lot of money. The penalty for removing Gray's acreage, with an equalized value of $160,000, from the state program currently is about $9,000 and annual taxes would increase from $88 to nearly $2,400. As of Sept. 27, the withdrawal penalty will be over $42,000, a more than four-fold hike. "I can't afford to get out. I'm stuck," Gray said. There are about 2.2 million acres in the state program under about 1,700 landowners. Local history buff dies at age 103 TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 16) — Julius Petertyl lived the history he loved to recall. The Traverse City-born man shared more than a century of town memories often and with gusto. Petertyl left his own legacy when he died at the age of 103. Family and friends remembered Petertyl for his vivid accounts of the area's past. He had many: The milkman who delivered goods by sleigh, damage from a 1956 tornado that touched down in Leelanau County and records of the managers and greens-keepers at Traverse City Golf & Country Club. "He was a very delightful man. He was very friendly and personable to everyone, very kind and very historic," said Boots Wolff, who bought the downtown Petertyl Drug & Gift Center from Petertyl's brother. Wolff knew Petertyl for decades and credited him for saving much of Traverse City's heritage. Developer wants to split from brownfield TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 17) — A West Front Street developer wants to break away from an existing brownfield plan, form his own plan, and seek more state dollars. Snowden Companies plans a project at 305 West Front St. to feature commercial and residential uses and, possibly, public parking. The site already was allocated about $1.6 million in Michigan Economic Growth Authority funds. But the developer requested an additional $2 million for site preparation, said Jean Derenzy, director of the Grand Traverse County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. The request is expected to go to the brownfield authority for consideration. The plan also includes separation of the 305 W. Front St. property from a multiproperty brownfield plan into one of its own. Plans for historic barns moving ahead TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 18) — Groups who want to use the Grand Traverse Commons barns property are busy preparing plans for the site. The 55-acre public site features two large historic barns. A months-long planning effort culminated in suggested uses and would keep nearly half of it open space. The joint Traverse City and Garfield Township recreational authority is preparing to ask groups to submit proposals to use and manage the property. The authority soon will consider hiring an engineering consultant to coordinate that process. Authority board member Michael Groleau said a number of organizations expressed interest in the site. He prefers groups work together and submit one plan, possibly due in February. Rolling Centuries Farm and the Botanical Garden Society of Northwest Michigan are among those working on proposals. TCAPS responds to lawsuit TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 19) — A lawsuit seeking to halt the closure of Bertha Vos Elementary contains "frivolous" claims and no legal merit, an attorney for Traverse City Area Public Schools said. TCAPS lawyers, of East Lansing-based Thrun Law Firm, filed a response in Grand Traverse County Circuit Court to a complaint issued by parents of current and former Bertha Vos students. The parents seek a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction against TCAPS. The suit alleges school board violated the state Revised School Code of 1976 and the constitution in its decision to close Bertha Vos. But an injunction based on those reasons is not legally allowed, TCAPS attorney Raymond Davis said. The school code provision in question comes from a section that applies only to school districts with 100,000 students or more, Davis said. TCAPS has about 10,300 students. Likewise, TCAPS' response challenges the Bertha Vos group's assertion that the school board violated a section of the state constitution that requires the legislature to "maintain and support a system of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law." Township eyes natural area GREILICKVILLE (Sept. 20) — Elmwood Township will buy a portion of the DeYoung Natural Area if officials can secure a state grant, a move that could help the Leelanau Conservancy pay its debt on the 145-acre farm off Cedar Lake. The conservancy purchased the Louis DeYoung property in June 2006 for $1.8 million to preserve the land for its natural and recreational assets like the Leelanau Trail and Cedar Lake shoreline. They've raised about $700,000 in private donations and pledges, leaving more than $1 million to go. Township officials voted to purchase 65 acres of lake front property if they can get a state grant to cover 75 percent of the cost. The conservancy would pay the other 25 percent with private fund-raising. That would fit into the group's initial plans to raise about $1 million in private donations and $1 million from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, conservancy executive director Brian Price said. He added they don't want to spend any of the group's own money, which they'd like to save in case another property or project comes up. New city hall is under construction GAYLORD (Sept. 20) — A new city hall is taking shape in northern Michigan's Alpine town. A $3.4 million office building is under construction on Main Street in downtown Gaylord at the site of the former U.S. post office. Officials said it's a matter of months before all city offices move there. "It's going well. We're on schedule and on budget. Those are the two measuring sticks for construction," said Ed Hunt, president of Integrity Construction, the project contractor. The new hall will include upwards of 27,000 square feet of space, compared to a tight 3,500 square feet in the city's current home in a shared building with Otsego County on Main Street. Judge rejects Vos group's request TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 21) — A judge denied a parent group's request to keep Traverse City Area Public Schools from closing Bertha Vos Elementary, but the district didn't emerge unscathed. Grand Traverse County Circuit Court Judge Philip Rodgers cited a lack of legal grounds when he rejected the parents' request for a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction against TCAPS. But Rodgers sharply questioned documents TCAPS attorney Raymond Davis presented in the district's defense. That information contained simplified data and no critical analysis, he said. Rodgers added that if the TCAPS material was subject to its own grading standards, it should receive an incomplete. TCAPS will need to file a separate motion to dismiss the case before it is dropped. Septage plant may lose $1.3 million TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 21) — New economic forecasts predict Grand Traverse County's troubled septage treatment plant will lose almost $1.3 million by the end of 2011. The first long-term projection of the plant's financial health stunned township supervisors and county commissioners. "We kept hearing you're going to be all right, you're going to be all right," said East Bay Township Supervisor Glen Lile. "This is the first projection I've seen and it's not good." County Finance Director Dean Bott said the plant will accrue $403,000 in operating losses by the end of this year, and it's expected to lose between $210,000 and $240,000 a year over the next four years. Ruling clears the way for The Village ACME (Sept. 22) — A shifting development debate along M-72 changed course again as the state Court of Appeals reinstated a special use permit for The Village at Grand Traverse mixed-use project. A three-judge appellate panel issued a 12-page ruling that reversed 13th Circuit Judge Philip Rodgers' 2005 decision to vacate permits for the disputed development proposal on a 182-acre site at M-72 and Lautner Road. The ruling clears the way for developers to pursue plans for a 1 million-plus-square foot project that includes commercial, residential and other uses. Acme Township officials, however, retain final site plan approval authority. Kenneth Petterson, an attorney for The Village, said it's not yet clear whether project developers will pursue the project as originally proposed. Historic site in line for improvements PORT ONEIDA (Sept. 23) — Wooden barns, silos, chicken coops and butcher sheds dot 3,400 acres of rolling pastures and lakefront landscape, hinting at a lifestyle of days past. Lee Jameson looked out on a Port Oneida pasture one recent sunny afternoon and saw more than just an empty northern Leelanau County field and old barns. "It's hard to describe. It's a place where ... you can come to understand your relationship to the land," he said. It's also where he created memories as a camp counselor in the 1970s and '80s, courted his wife and where he brings his daughter after a day at the beach. And the Port Oneida Rural Historic District is where Jameson works as facility manager for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The nation's largest publicly owned historic agricultural district is home to 19 farms, four of which are privately owned. It boasts two one-room school houses, a cemetery, small orchards and beaches. Park officials last week released an environmental assessment with options for adding a visitor's center, picnic area, parking, pathways and employee housing to the district. The plan also calls for rehabilitating farm buildings and land. Internet provides options TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 24) — Mykala Ford spends a class period each day studying Latin vocabulary words in the school library. The language is not offered as part of the regular curriculum at West Junior High in Traverse City, where she is a freshman, but she was able to enroll online and will gain high school credit for the course. And that chance was too good to pass up. "If they don't have a teacher, or they can't afford to pay a teacher, you can have other opportunities," said Ford, 14, who plans to stick with Latin in the future. Traverse City's high schools are the first in Michigan to offer an increased selection of online courses to students, the result of a decision by state schools Superintendent Michael Flanagan that allows up to a quarter of the district's high schoolers to take as many as six classes online. The classes are run through Michigan Virtual High School, an online provider of hundreds of courses — everything from core classes to Advanced Placement. The courses are free to students during the school year. Soldier killed in Afghanistan CHEBOYGAN (Sept. 25) — Matt Blaskowski's second tour of duty in Afghanistan ended suddenly, tragically, making him the second soldier from Cheboygan County to die this year in U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Blaskowski, 27, was shot and killed in Afghanistan, family members said. He was a sergeant and squad leader in the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade. "We're mad and we're sad and we're tired," said Shirley Blaskowski of Cheboygan, his grandmother. "He was very proud of what he was doing, but we didn't want to lose him. He was very brave and very strong — maybe too brave." Blaskowski's death means Cheboygan County will play host to a second military funeral in seven months. U.S. Army Pfc. Justin Paton, 24, died in Iraq in February. City tackles beach-related topics TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 25) — Summer tests that showed some instances of elevated E. coli readings at area beaches are drawing attention from officials this fall. City commissioners discussed beaches, boats and E. coli levels and offered comments about how to approach bacteria-related beach warnings next season. During the 2007 summer season, four area beaches tested too high for E. coli, and health officials posted temporary warnings to avoid swimming. Rain, on-shore winds and animal droppings were blamed for the elevated readings. Commissioner Ralph Soffredine suggested improvements to storm water drains near beaches. Commissioner Chris Bzdok recommended the city hang temporary signs after a rain that warn of the higher risk of water contact. More meetings are planned to tackle the bacteria topic. Walkout hits area parts suppliers hard WILLIAMSBURG (Sept. 26) — Area auto parts suppliers are prepared to lay off workers and cut back production as ripples from the United Auto Workers' strike against General Motors Corp. quickly moved into northern Michigan. "It's just unfortunate," said Tom Crandell, president of Great Lakes Trim of Williamsburg, who added that Great Lakes enjoyed a steady flow of work this year thanks to an upswing in GM sales. It also makes an interior part for a popular Cadillac model that resulted in a second shift being added at the small manufacturer north of M-72 in Acme Township. About 80 percent of the parts supplier's business is related to GM, and Great Lakes expects to lay off around 45 of its 65 workers if the strike isn't resolved soon. At the nearby Grand Traverse Plastics Corp. plant, company president Chet Grant said the strike has already affected his injection-molding company, but it was too soon to know how it will impact its 100 employees. "Our operation is slowing down as we talk," Grant said. "We're waiting to see what happens with the various assembly lines." Brownfield Authority backs more funding TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 27) — Local brownfield officials paved the way for developer Gerald Snowden to receive more state funds for his mixed-use West Front Street project. The Grand Traverse County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority unanimously approved a proposal for more funding and separating the property at 305 W. Front St. into its own brownfield plan. Snowden's land was part of a larger, multi-property brownfield plan that shared millions in state development incentives, but now it stands on its own. City commissioners will consider the plan in October. The county board must sign on before seeking final state approval in November. Stink control nearly finished TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 27) — Odor control work at the city's wastewater treatment plant should be done by mid-October, project managers said amid recent complaints about foul air. "It's been really bad on a really regular basis now," said Trisha Gamble, manager of Verano Tan on Eighth Street across from the plant. She said she's dealt with the smell for 18 years, but the last few weeks have been especially pungent. Similar complaints from city Commissioner Deni Scrudato sparked a meeting during which workers from plumbing company Arms & Cole and engineering consultant Gosling Czubak said they hope to finish a few weeks before their contractual completion date of Nov. 11. Public weighs in on Farmers Market TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 28) — The downtown Farmers Market should be a unique shopping experience, a spark for local business and a place to purchase local produce, depending on whom you ask. Roughly 50 people showed up at a forum to talk about the popular Farmers Market, formed in 1983 by the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority. This year brought some criticism to new rules that would exclude some vendors from its stalls in 2008. The DDA hosted the meeting to gather input on what the market's mission should be. A market committee will use the comments to guide recommendations on possible rule shifts, to be considered by the DDA board. The current rules would limit vendors next year to those from a local seven-county area and require sellers to be growers. Shutdown looms over area services TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 28) — State employees and customers are anxious about a looming government shutdown, but Mary Marois is especially worried about a host of programs offered by the Grand Traverse/Leelanau Department of Human Services. Among them: child protective services, cash assistance, food stamps and Medicaid. The fates of local state services are in the air while contingency plans go into effect for a possible government closure. That means certain services could stop for citizens and paychecks might disappear for state employees. Motorists may also notice the state shutdown on the roads. Bob Felt, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation, said without a budget on Monday, road construction projects — from filling potholes to rebuilding highways — could be halted. Recall of treasurer goes forward TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 29) — Garfield Township Treasurer Judy McManus did not resign her $63,138 post as promised, so a drive to force her out through recall will move forward. Grand Traverse County's Election Commission approved recall language that alleged McManus should be recalled for yelling and swearing at employees and for not reporting to work or attending township board meetings since June 15. Township resident Carl Goeman needs to collect 1,600 valid signatures by Oct. 12 in order to put the recall question on the Jan. 15, 2008, presidential primary ballot. Goeman said he's confident he'll meet the deadline. "I think there's a lot of support for the recall and I don't think it's going to be a problem," Goeman said. Goeman said he'd stop the recall effort if McManus resigned, but that didn't happen, despite recent hints that she'd leave. Bertha Vos students head to Elk Rapids TRAVERSE CITY (Sept. 30) — Finn Husband's gray T-shirt displays his school affiliation across the front: He is an Elk. And proud of it. The first-grader wore the shirt one morning last week as he boarded an Elk Rapids school bus bound for Mill Creek Elementary with more than 10 other children. The students formerly attended Bertha Vos Elementary, part of Traverse City Area Public Schools. Their parents, who live within the district's borders, pay TCAPS taxes. But the school board's recent decision to close Bertha Vos at the end of this school year led some parents to make a difficult choice — stay at a school that won't be open next year or switch now to ease the transition sooner, rather than later. For several parents, that meant moving their children to nearby Mill Creek, part of the Elk Rapids school district. "The choice was just what was best for my child at this point," said Debbie Husband, of Williamsburg, a former Bertha Vos parent who moved Finn, 6, and preschooler Sully, 4, to Mill Creek this year. "We don't know what the future holds (with TCAPS). Everything is pretty muddy there, and I'm not comfortable in these formative years to have my child there."
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