5 YEARS AGO September 5, 2019
The owner of Sugar Loaf Resort, Jeff Katofsky, is asking everyone to stay off his property “to prevent any harm” until he can come up with “a solution in approximately 30 days” to the resort’s current problems. Sugar Loaf Resort’s current problems include the fact that it is out of compliance with a 2017 order from the county that the resort be thoroughly fenced off and boarded up in keeping with state Construction Code requirements. *** The Grand Traverse Band last week hosted the first public action toward renewing or writing a new tribal decree regulating commercial and sports fishing in the Great Lakes. The decree affects the lives of many county residents and visitors — and controls the livelihoods of some. “I think it’s very important to everyone in the country because I think the Great Lakes are the crown jewels of America,” said Bill “Bear” Fowler, who fishes commercially off the shoreline of Leelanau through a license issued by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
10 YEARS AGO September 4, 2014
A mentor, teacher and friend of the Glen Lake community, Dr. Matthew Houghton died Sunday in Traverse City after a brief illness. Marion Harriger worked for Houghton, first at his office in Empire, and later at the Medical Arts Building in Glen Arbor. She was with him for 34 of his 43 years as a county physician. “Doc knew people and read them unbelievably well,” Harriger said. “He was a gifted man. I don’t think people realize what a gold mine he was.” *** One of the richest counties in the state will likely begin the 2015 fiscal year with an $870,000 budget deficit. But that’s only on paper. Historically, Leelanau County administrators and officials have budgeted conservatively, and ended the year with surpluses. It appears the county fiscal plan will need to dig out of a bigger hole than past years, as the proposed budget provided to commissioners calls for a deficit of $874,659.
25 YEARS AGO September 9, 1999
Inequity has been growing between the wages of union and non-union county employees. As of fiscal year 2000, the county’s unionized employees will have received at least 12.75 percent in salary increases during the past three years. The salaries of non-union employees have increased 10.75 percent since 1997. *** The trial of a woman accused in the New Year’s Eve day murder of her husband is being put on hold pending her psychiatric evaluation. Cynthia L. McDonnell is charged with firstdegree murder in the death of her husband, Daniel J. McDonnell, in their Bingham Township home. *** The state Natural Resources Commission is considering a ban to the practice of “deer baiting” to help control the spread of bovine tuberculosis in deer and other animals.
50 YEARS AGO Septemeber 5, 1974
The Leelanau County Social Services moved Tuesday from its offices in the Leelanau County Courthouse in Leland to its new location in the 2,852 square foot former Alka Tool and Die Co. building in Suttons Bay. The decision to locate the social services department at Suttons Bay was made in April when the Leelanau County board of commissioners voted to accept the bid of the Ailington family who own the building in Suttons Bay. *** “Greycote,” the Eleanor A. Hendrickson Cottage, adjacent to Leland Harbor, and recently the target of proposed property condemnation by the Michigan Waterways Commission which wanted to acquire it along with other property and expand the harbor parking lot, has now been given official recognition by the Michigan Historical Commission as a registered state historical site.
75 YEARS AGO September 2, 1948
The Transportation Committee of the State Economic Development Commission has asked the State Highway Department to survey the possibilities of the proposed Leelanau - Manistique automobile car ferry. The Highway Department will prepare a report to include probable cost, potential traffic and all advantages and disadvantages of the route. *** A brief, heavy windstorm described by some as a “twister” struck the north end of the county shortly after noon Wednesday, disrupted electric service, broke branches from trees and filled Northport streets with debris. The storm, which struck Omena first and visited Northport shortly afterward, blew from the south and southwest and was accompanied by heavy rain. In the rest of the county a strong southeast wind which had been blowing since midnight shifted farther south. It broke branches from trees near Lake Leelanau.
100 YEARS AGO September 4, 1924
Next Tuesday is Primary election day, all citizens should not fail to go to the polls and cast their ballot for their candidate for the several offices to be voted for. There are seven candidates for Governor, three candidates for U.S. Senator also several candidates for Lieutenant Governor. *** Our public schools opened last Tuesday with a good attendance. The following teachers were again employed: D. Selby, Miss Johnston, Mrs. Elmer Dalton and Miss Morton.
