LEELANAU HISTORY
5 YEARS AGO December 26, 2019
Work on restoring the historic shanties of Fishtown began this week, a process that requires moving the shanties off their foundations using cranes. Amanda Holmes, executive director of Fishtown Preservation Society (FPS), said Bob Biggs, of Biggs Construction Services, is over seeing the project. Workers from Biggs were busy this week gutting the Cheese Shanty and an adjacent smaller shanty that is used as storage for the Dam Candy Store. *** More children felt the joy of opening presents on Christmas morning thanks to a local girl. Zoe Walker, 9, of Cedar recently went on a shopping spree at Target in Traverse City with her mother, Tegan Creamer, to purchase toys for children through Northwest Michigan Marine Toys for Tots. Walker and her mom purchased the toys with funds raised through Zoe Will Help, a charitable organization started by Walker.
10 YEARS AGO December 25, 2014
Anyone approaching the entrance to the Senior Services office in the Leelanau County Government Center earlier this week might have encountered a grisly “crime scene.” With her tongue squarely in cheek, Senior Services office worker Armanda Krantz said Leelanau County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the apparent gangland slaying of Frosty ‘da Snowman in the Government Center hallway directly outside the Senior Services office. *** Lee A. Bowen, chair of the Leelanau County Road Commission, announced this week that he’s hanging up his hard hat. The immediate resignation will require finding a second replacement within a year for the historically stable three- member Road Commission. Bowen, 75, has been on the commission since 1998, the last eight years as chair. His resignation also includes his position as chair of the County Board of Public Works and chair of the Leland Dam Authority, both of which he serves on as a member of the Road Commission. *** Troy Broad and Pam McCormick turned up the heat when dancing the steamy bolero as their final number in the SwingShift and the Stars event held Friday at the Traverse City Opera House. The dancers also took in $125,835 for Leelanau Christian Neighbors in the fourmonth- long charity fund-raiser, claiming first place overall for both their dancing performances and in the amount of money raised.
25 YEARS AGO December 23, 1999
Local cattle farmers are waiting anxiously to hear results of tuberculosis tests on a deer killed this fall in Antrim County. It’s suspected that the deer is infected with bovine tuberculosis.
*** The Leelanau Conservancy has signed agreements to purchase two parcels totalin 97 acres to protect the “view corridor” coming into the village of Empire. The larger parcel, known as the Clagett property, is the largest undeveloped tract of land within the village.
50 YEARS AGO December 26, 1974
A 6,900 gallon gasoline spill at Total Leonard Inc., in Greilickville, Thursday was totally confined to cemtn spillway dikes which are there for that purpose, Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department announced. The sheriff’s department said the gasoline spilled when a pipe being use to pump gasoline into to one of the companys storage tanks at the site burst. *** Eight Glen Lake Community School childern and a school bus driver escaped injury Thursday afternoon when the bus hit a cow which wandered onto Shcomberg Road a mile north of County Road 645 in Centerville Township, the Leelanau County sheriff’s department reported. Deputies said the cow was killed as a result of the collision, but damage to the school bus was minor.
75 YEARS AGO December 23, 1948
According to Dr. B. H. Van Leuven, director of the Leelanau- Grand Traverse health unit, there are now at least six cases of scarlet fever in Leelanau County. The doctor said, however, that none of them is serious, there have been no complications, and treatment with sulfa drugs clears up the disease quickly and safely. Period of quarantine is 14 days. *** Work on the garage to house the Solon-Centerville fire truck at Cedar has stopped for the winter with only a little finishing to be done in the spring. Fire Chief Lewis Commins tested the new siren Tuesday and Township Treasurer Rudolph Lautner, who lives seven miles out, called in to say that he had heard it. The control switch has been placed outside of Burry’s restaurant temporarily, but later operation of the siren will be handled in the telephone office.
100 YEARS AGO December 25, 1924
A very enjoyable program was given by the primary and grammar grades at the school house Wednesday night this week. *** The Leland Independent basketball team will journey to Norhtport Friday night where they will play off the tie with Suttons Bay. They will play at Northport on a neutral floor.
