5 YEARS AGO April 11, 2019
The termination letter from Village of Northport President Steve Wetherbee to now former administrative coordinator Barb Von Voigtlander is seeing daylight for the first time. The Leelanau Enterprise recently obtained a copy of the letter through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), after Wetherbee failed to provide copies to members of council prior to the letter’s delivery, which council previously agreed would occur by certified mail. Wetherbee said he hand-delivered the termination letter to Von Voigtlander and signed it as his own witness.
*** Sugar Loaf Resort owner Jeff Katofsky is slated to make another in-person “stealth visit” to Leelanau County on May 3, according to local officials who participated in a teleconference with him last week. The California-based real estate attorney and developer is expected to meet in person at that time with many of the government officials who participated in a teleconference with him on April 4.
10 YEARS AGO April 10, 2014
The Suttons Bay Public Schools district will have just $89,856 left in its fund balance at the end of this fiscal year — or less than 1 percent of its $9.7 million budgeted expenses. At the other end of the fund balance spectrum is the Glen Lake Community Schools district, which will have about $12.1 million in its coffers at the end of the year, or about 110 percent of its $11.2 million in expenses.
*** Action this week by Kasson Township may impact the launch of an “air walk” development planned there. Township officials voted unanimously Monday night to place a 90-day moratorium on special use permits within the township. “It has nothing to do with the air walk proposal,” zoning administrator Mike Lanham said. “It is not being put in place to stop or delay (air walk developer Mark) Evans. But the timing is kind of odd.”
25 YEARS AGO April 15, 1999
The county equalization report places personal and real property totals at billions of dollars—$ 1,526,420,485 to be exact. That’s 9.4 percent more than a year ago. The county’s estimated land values total more than $3 billion.
*** An unexpected 10 inches of snow takes residents and road commission staff by surprise. The snow melted within a few days.
*** A team of county Prosecutor Clarence K. Gomery and former Antrim County Prosecutor James G. Young could be the county’s new corporate counsel. Commissioners are looking at counsel that may be closer to home and less expensive than the current counsel of Cohl, Stoker and Toskey of Lansing.
50 YEARS AGO April 11, 1974
Suttons Bay School District’s proposal 15-mill renewal was rejected by the voters in Monday’s election by a vote of 352 no to 296 yes. School Superintendent Tony Hoffman said that while he was disappointed with the outcome, he felt that the vote was not an “antischool vote” but was a reflection of voter unhappiness over the recent reappraisal which sent valuations much higher in the Suttons Bay School District and which are expected to greatly reduce state aid.
*** Hope for the safe return of three missing West Bay fishermen faded Wednesday as divers from Leelanau County and Grand Traverse Counties located the missing 18 foot outboard fishing boat of Jerry Ance, 34. Suttons Bay just before 11 a m. in 90 feet of water a mile north and east of Old Mission Light. No trace had yet been found of Ance or his brother, Charles Ance of Ionia and Melvin Douglas 35, of Lansing.
75 YEARS AGO April 8, 1948
Sheriff Robert White, in a move to round up offenders who supply liquor to minors, is hunting Tony Popa of Cedar and Edward Muslawski of Traverse City. Popa is wanted on the complaint of Howard Nelson, whose son was one of three youths arrested several weeks ago for smashing fish coops while on a drunken party. Popa already paid a fine and costs totalling $38.35 for selling to one of the boys.
*** Annual township meetings throughout Leelanau county Monday ranged from middling dull to explosive. A handful of voters turned out for a few of the meetings while others, in which controversial issues were involved, bulged the town halls. In most townships the voters turned out in small numbers, quickly approved the appropriations and went home. Noisiest of the fireworks occured at Leland where several lake front property owners offered land for sale.
100 YEARS AGO April 10, 1924
Leland’s basketball teams did not finish as high in the county standing as they planned to do. This was not so much because they were overrated at the beginning of the season, but because the opposition proved to be stronger than expected. Maple City gave the worst upset in winning both games on their home floor. The girls held their own with Suttons Bay and Northport early in the season, being in second place for a time.
*** The crows and robins seem to be telling the truth this week, and we surely hope so. The snow has sunk several inches this week, and the bare spots of ground are steadily growing larger. From a temperature of 20 degrees at 6:30 a. m. today, the thermometer rose to 50 degrees at noon and still higher this afternoon.
