5 YEARS AGO November 7, 2019
It was Page One news in the Leelanau Enterprise on Jan. 18,1951 when one of the county’s native sons, Walter “Babe” Tobin, was declared missing in action in Korea. Later this month, his remains will be returned to Leelanau County for interment in a family cemetery in Empire Township. Very few people living today knew Walter Tobin personally. His official next-of-kin is a niece, Cynthia Wright of Empire, who was born more than seven years after her uncle was declared missing in Korea. But she has a stack of letters he wrote during the war and is living in the same Empire house he grew up in. *** The infant day care program is in jeopardy at Suttons Bay Public Schools (SBPS). At its regular meeting Monday, the SBPS Board of Education listed on its agenda an action item of eliminating the program as of Jan. 6, which superintendent Mike Carmean said was due to financial reasons. The board tabled the matter after a slew of disapproving public comments from school-district parents and community members in attendance
10 YEARS AGO November 6, 2014
Change, here and there. Leelanau County voters delivered mixed messages in the election of 2014, voting solidly Republican in statewide races but replacing two sitting commissioners in favor of Democrats. The fractured election results were part of a long night for poll workers and employees of the county Clerk’s office that finished with, once again, a strong turnout among county registered voters. *** A search warrant issued last week by the Leelanau County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has uncovered a few documents — but no real answers so far — in a mystery over why anyone may have forged Kate Wickstrom’s signature on a “quit claim deed” for Sugar Loaf Resort. Wickstrom purchased the resort in March 2005 from a corporation controlled by Remo Polselli using a mortgage underwritten by Polselli’s wife. *** As Republicans gained control of the U.S. Senate and retained control of state government in Tuesday’s national election stage, it was Democrats who made history in Leelanau County. For the first time, the county Board of Commissioners will include more than one Democrat. Incumbent District 6 commissioner Peachy Rentenbach, who survived a challenge from former county board chairman Bob Hawley, is the current board’s lone Dem. She will be joined by two more Democratic Party members who topped incumbent Republicans.
25 YEARS AGO November 4, 1999
Leland Superintendent Ann C. Anderson has resigned for personal reasons. *** A former tribal officer who is now a prison inmate could get a new trial if his appeal claiming an “ineffective” defense counsel can be demonstrated.
50 YEARS AGO November 7, 1974
Constance Binsfeld (R) of Maple City will be our new State Representative for District 104, winning over William ‘Bill’ Gregory (D) Suttons Bay. But it was a close race as far as Leelanau County voters were concerned. Mrs. Binsfeld received 2,558 votes and Gregory 2,474 votes in the county. Probate Judge Marion Yoder of Suttons Bay was unseated bv Glen Arbor attorney and school teacher Betty Weaver who won by 2.401 votes to 2.060 for Yoder, in a non-partisan race. *** The Leelanau County sheriff ’s department has recovered a number of motorcycle parts and accessories, valued at from $1,000 to $1,200 from a wooded area north of Lakeview Road, in the Bingham - Elmwood Township area. The parts were found in the woods after the sheriff’s department was notifi ed by a resident of Lakeview Road that the items had been found in the area by her sons, while hunting there.
75 YEARS AGO November 4, 1948
Coastguard lifeboats and crews from South Manitou Island, Frankfort and Manistee late Wednesday afternoon were fighting a high east wind and choppy seas in Lake Michigan about 18 miles southwest of Empire, in an attempt to tow the big tanker Edgewater to shelter. *** There definitely will be skiing this winter on the Northeast slope of Sugar Loaf, according to Arthur Huey, president of the winter sports club. Huey and Fred Baker, both of Glen Arbor, reached an agreement Friday morning with William Horn, Suttons Bay lumberman, whereby Horn will clear the new slope for the timber and wood on it. He will start brushing next week, and fell the timber at the end of deer season. Both slopes are scheduled to open by December 15.
100 YEARS AGO November 6, 1924
Yard lights on the farm, especially the large farm, have been successfully tried in on of two localities, proving a decided help in after dark or before dawn work. The old-time lantern has no place in the electrically lighted barn and barnyard.
*** Advertisement: Turkey’s Wanted? I will buy Turkey’s at my warehouse on Tuesday, November 11th, 1924. Due to late season it will be necessary to grade them to “Toms” weighing 11 lbs. and hens weighing 8 lbs.
