results from Crocker and other elected officials. According to the nine-page document presented to the board Wednesday, the clerk’s office is “vindictive/ dishonest — Crocker and Zywicki ‘put their nose in everything,’ note how they talk to people (is) mean-spirited.” *** The number of visitors at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore last year topped 1.5 million people for the ninthstraight year. Year-end visitor tallies became public late last week. Visitation in 2023 was 1,598,248, up 6.5% over the previous year total of 1,501,117, according to Scott Tucker, Lakeshore superintendent.
JANUARY 18, 2024:
An organizational culture survey presented earlier this month painted a rather unflattering picture of Leelanau County government. One of the major takeaways was that the county board of commissioners needs some training to govern more effectively and stop “stepping over boundaries,” in the words of the report. The board voted 4-2 Tuesday to enroll themselves in a Michigan Leadership Institute (MLI) governance training workshop at no cost to the county, to take place in late January or early February. *** The Lake Leelanau Lake Association (LLLA) is now a party to a lawsuit over expansion of the Leelanau Pines Campground. LLLA President Nancy Popa confirmed this week that the association has been granted intervenor status in Northgate-Leelanau Pines v. Centerville Township. *** The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a millage request for its senior services department, which will appear on the Michigan 2024 primary election ballot in August. Voters will consider a proposal to renew the millage at a rate of 0.32 for two years, which would be a slight increase from the 0.3134 rate set in 2022.
JANUARY 25, 2024:
A home and an opportunity. Jon and Kelly Kehl became new homeowners in Northport through Peninsula Housing, marking a first for the program on Jan. 18. The Leelanau natives are grateful for the community support that made this possible. “It’s a dream come true for us,” Kelly said. Thanks to the generosity of Peninsula Housing donors, bridge lenders, and the Leelanau Township Community Foundation, the non-profit organization was able to move quickly to purchase the home in Northport at the end of 2023. *** County Administrator Deborah Allen recently announced that the county hired a new human resources director, Heather Cade. This addition is part of Allen’s efforts to fill open positions at the government center and stem the departure of personnel that’s been increasing in intensity since the second half of 2023. *** The Glen Lake Board of Education acknowledged Wednesday night that the school will not sprint for a mileage this spring after a failed $35 million bid was rejected in fall 2023. The Laker administration has its eyes set on the November ballot instead with an updated, earlytarget price of $20 to $25 million being discussed.
FEBRUARY 1, 2024:
Although it’s been three years since Joe Biden took the presidential oath of office, over 14 months since the 2022 Michigan elections, and voting equipment purchases and training for the 2024 elections have already occurred, a handful of residents from across Leelanau County still flock to the government center in Suttons Bay before almost every public meeting of elected officials. During the five minutes allotted for public comment at the beginning and end of these meetings, these residents — often clad in red and identifying themselves as members of the “patriot” group — implore Leelanau County commissioners to implement election reforms. *** Dick Grout is a hero among us. Grout, a longtime county resident now living in Traverse City, was awarded France’s highest distinction Tuesday — the French Legion of Honor. The honor comes nearly 80 years after he and thousands of other Allied servicemen stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and soon after pried France from the clutches of Hitler’s Third Reich. Grout’s son-in-law, François Mouzard, served as master of ceremonies for the event, held at Kirkbride Hall at the Village of Grand Traverse Commons. *** A Glen Lake teacher has resigned in the midst of an investigation pertaining to student privacy issues. Glen Lake Community Schools Superintendent Jason Misner sent an email to parents Monday announcing the resignation of Glen Lake 6-12 band director Eli George. *** The 13th Circuit Court has upheld Centerville Township’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) decision regarding a controversial development. Judge Kevin Elsenheimer has ruled that appeals’ board members were correct when they upheld the planners’ rejection of a request from Northgate-Leelanau Pines to expand the former Leelanau Pines Campground.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024:
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners were saddened when the results of an organizational culture survey came back to them Jan. 3, but most commissioners seemed to accept the validity of the report at the time. However, some board members changed their tune at their January regular session, requesting Michigan Leadership Institute regional president John Scholten to provide additional data and address some perceived shortcomings in his report. *** Longtime County Commissioner Melinda Lautner is being challenged for her District 7 seat by another Republican. Steve Yoder of Cedar is seeking the Republican nomination for the district which represents Solon and Kasson Townships. Yoder announced his candidacy Tuesday. *** The battle for the final 4.2mile “Segment 9” of the Heritage Trail within the Sleeping Bear Dunes is heating up again as plans are finalized and opposition is questioning the impact on the environment with roughly 7,300 trees’ fate in doubt, according to an assessment of the environmental impact by Borealis Consulting LLC in Traverse City. *** Idaho potatoes. Wisconsin cheese. Michigan tart cherries. OK, cherries aren’t there yet. But cherry promoters now have the tool they need to push Michigan cherries into the everyday vernacular of grocery shoppers. “It’s like the M-22 sticker,” said Chris Bardenhagen, a Leland Township fruit grower and attorney for the Michigan Cherry Committee who did much of the legwork to create a “geographic indicator” (GI) to associate cherries with the Mitten State. “It’s a place-based connection… It can play a potentially important part in the future of cherries.”
No snow, no problem! The Roy Taghon Empire Snowmobile Drag Race went off without snow as dozens of sled heads from around northern Michigan participated in the race that raises money for Glen Lake scholarships. Two racers dash off the starting line, spewing dirt and exhaust in front of spectators in February. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger
FEBRUARY 15, 2024:
Leelanau County Administrator Deb Allen is leaving county government, having entered a separation agreement with the county at a special session of the board of commissioners Thursday. Allen told the newspaper that her last day will be April 12, and that she will help find a new administrator with a “deep” financial background to aid in changes to the county finance structure. *** Voters in the Suttons Bay School District will go to the polls in May to consider an $18.3 million bond proposal. The Suttons Bay Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to approve a resolution to call on a special election in May to consider the bond request which will be used for “building and site purposes.” *** The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners is looking to amend its rules of order and procedure to prevent audience members from donating public comment time to other speakers. This proposal follows a recent bid by a dozen attendees to give their five minutes to one person for an “extended” public comment on alleged “security flaws in our county’s computer election system.” *** Leland Township’s Zoning Board of Appeals has affirmed the Planning Commission’s decision to deny a permit for a mixed-use development in the unincorporated village of Leland. The ZBA held a public hearing Monday afternoon to consider the appeal of the planner’s December decision to deny a special use permit for an 11,590 square foot commercial and residential structure proposed for property at William and Main on the north end of the village.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024:
The Leland Wine and Food Festival has been canceled for this year. The Leland Chamber of Commerce announced today that the popular event will not take place in June for “There are too many unknowns that have to be resolved in a short period of time for us to risk the investment in deposit to go forward,” chamber President Mark Morton said. Morton explained the situation to the Leland Township Board last week. *** Commissioner Melinda Lautner failed to gain a second to her motion to waive the $1,000 cost on her Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request at the county board’s regular meeting Tuesday night, with no other county commissioner willing to support her efforts to see personnel committee correspondence leading up to a recent organizational culture survey. *** Former Glen Lake band teacher Elijah George has been arrested on three counts of surveying unclothed persons and three counts using computers to commit crimes. According to a criminal complaint George allegedly took inappropriate photos of a female student by laying his cell phone on his knee. School administrators were alerted by a student who witnessed George taking the photos last month. The reporting student documented the activity with their own cell phone photos. On Jan. 26, George was called to the superintendent’s office to discuss the allegations where it was noticed the teacher was deleting items off his cell phone. *** Voting for next week’s presidential primary election appears to be going smoothly locally and statewide. For the first time since the passage of a new voting rights act in 2022, Michigan residents have the opportunity to cast their vote early and in person for nine consecutive days before the presidential primary election day, which began Saturday and continues through Sunday, Feb. 25. Voters can also vote in person on election day.
FEBRUARY 29, 2024:
The Associated Press called the presidential primary race early last night after the polls closed, announcing that 46th President Joe Biden and 45th President Donald Trump won Michigan primaries. According to the unofficial election results posted on the Leelanau County website, about 35% of the registered voters in the county, 7,615 of 21,720 voters, turned out to vote. *** If variety is your idea of good weather, you’ve been blessed. But you obviously aren’t a cherry grower if you don’t mind temperatures hitting 70 degrees one day, then dropping into the teens the next. Yo-yo weather has been one of many problems faced by county growers over the last 14 years or so, which takes us back to 2012 and the last time unseasonably warm temperatures swelled cherry buds so early that virtually all were killed by frost. *** The Leelanau County government center was subject to heated debate once again on Feb. 20. This time, the county commissioners were divided over a proposed grant application that would grant the county over $1.5 million to build out solar arrays on the center’s Suttons Bay campus, which is projected to save the county between $883,000 and $1.2 million in energy bills over 25 years.
MARCH 7, 2024:
Venting won’t solve the long list of challenges facing the cherry industry, but it was a start. Some 60 growers, mostly from Leelanau and Antrim counties, Monday took up an invitation issued by a Suttons Bay resident and fifth-generation orchardist to come together, chat, and start a process aimed at putting the cherry industry back in the black. *** The Village of Northport will receive $59K from 2023 recreational marijuana tax revenue, the Michigan Department of Treasury announced last Thursday. The total tax revenue Northport will receive in the days ahead is a 14% increase over the prior year. Northport, which is where Olean’s cannabis dispensary is located, is the only municipality in Leelanau County that allows recreational marijuana sales. For the state of Michigan’s 2023 fiscal year, each eligible municipality and county will receive more than $59,000 for every licensed retail store and micro business located within its jurisdiction *** Many terms of office will expire in 2024, so local officials, including the currently sitting county commissioners — will need to run for re-election if they want to continue serving Leelanau County. Although the filing deadline for most offices isn’t until April 23, some officials have already filed as of
early March.
MARCH 14, 2024:
Millages for county services are up for renewal in August, including the historically controversial Early Childhood Services program administered by the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation on the program Tuesday and will decide whether to place the millage renewal proposal on the ballot at their March 19 meeting, Tuesday night. *** Soaring through the clear blue sky at The Dune Climb in Glen Haven, Cedar resident Ted Lanham could see a model airplane gliding through the air as family and friends gathered to
(Continued on Page 11) see a surprise for Lanham. “I love to see the planes fly,” Lanham said. Lanham’s, 98, first surprise was the refurbishment of a model airplane that he built 12 years ago when he was 86 thanks to members and friends of the Little Finger Thermaleers. *** A generous donation to Munson Medical Center (MMC) from one local family is set to help others in the community for years to come. Munson unveiled a new name for its comprehensive stroke center — The Witham Family Comprehensive Stroke Center — on Monday at a ceremony to honor a $2.5 million donation from Richard and Marilyn Witham and their children, Chris and his wife, Stephanie, and Kurt. The Witham’s have been part-time residents of Leelanau County for the last 20 years.
Mike Young and Joe Hess uses a trenching machine, which creates a narrow and deep channel for fiber optic cables to be installed under the Lake Leelanau Narrows. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger
Glen Lake Community Schools food service professionals Jonathon Fields and Mindy Hawley won the 25th annual Winterfest chili cook off hosted by Boonedocks in Glen Arbor on Saturday. Over 800 people attended the event this year. Enterprise photo by Brian Freiberger
MARCH 21, 2024:
The Village of Northport is the first municipality in the tricounty area of Leelanau, Benzie, and Grand Traverse to establish a social district after village council trustees unanimously approved a resolution at its regular board meeting last week. *** The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners interviewed five candidates to fill the role of interim county administrator between current Administrator Deb Allen’s departure on April 12 and the approval of a permanent replacement, which the county’s consultant Chet Janik hopes to complete by the week of May 27. Richard Lewis, former city manager, commissioner, and mayor of Traverse City, used his impressive resume and southern charm to earn the majority of the board’s support. The county board agreed to enter into contract negotiations with Lewis for the position by a 5-2 vote, with commissioners Kama Ross and Jim O’Rourke voting no. *** The Leelanau Enterprise won 50 awards and was named Newspaper of the Year for a seventh-straight year by the Michigan Press Association.
MARCH 28, 2024:
It’s location, location for docks on the Manitou islands. Or to be more accurate, new location and new location. If all goes as scheduled, construction of docking stations at North Manitou and South Manitou islands will commence in 2025 and be completed for the 2026 tourist season, according to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore superintendent Scott Tucker. *** Mary Kuntz loves the 4th of July and all the fun that comes with Independence Day. However, one of these activities is in jeopardy. The Leland Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have any money to pay for the annual July 3 fireworks over Hancock Field this year. “I know how much joy the fireworks bring to families,” she said. “It would be so sad if there was no awareness and no effort to save it.” In February, Leland Chamber president Mark Morton announced cancellation of his organization’s biggest fundraiser, the Leland Food and Wine Festival. *** Leelanau County’s current administrator, Deb Allen, is set to step down in about two weeks on April 12, leaving the county without its most important nonelected official until a new administrator/chief financial officer (CFO) is hired. In the intervening period, former Traverse City Mayor Richard Lewis will serve as interim administrator for Leelanau County.
APRIL 4, 2024:
Timber Shores Family RV Camping & Beach Resort received a groundwater discharge permit on March 26 from Michigan’s department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). Monday, the permit officially went into effect, clearing another small step in a lengthy development process. *** Former President Donald Trump held a campaign event in Grand Rapids Tuesday, calling for increased border security and deportations in the wake of the murder of a Michigan woman by an immigrant living in the United States illegally. During his speech, Trump was flanked by members of the Michigan Police Officers Association (MPOA), and standing head-and-shoulders above the rest at well over 6 feet tall, on his immediate left, was Leelanau County’s own Sheriff Mike Borkovich. This event put the sheriff ’s office back in the national spotlight as Borkovich could be seen behind the 2024 presidential candidate on the likes of Fox and NBC. *** Starting from a field of 12 candidates running for Tribal Council positions, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) members in the six-county service area voted to narrow down the race to six people in Tuesday’s primary. In addition, the five candidates running for the tribal chairman office were narrowed down to two people. The upcoming May 7 general election will determine which of the six candidates will fill the three open seats on the Tribal Council, as well as who will be elected as the new chairman. The current tribal chairman, David Arroyo, did not file for reelection this year.
APRIL 11, 2024:
One of the biggest threats to the health of Michigan lakes has been found in Glen Lake. But while strands of Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) have been retrieved from the boat launch area on Little Glen, no evidence has surfaced yet proving that the fast-growing invasive species has taken a foothold in lake bottomlands. Rob Karner, Glen Lake Association (GLA) lake biologist, hopes it never does. The GLA has hired two contractors to conduct gridded searches of the lake using different methods starting in May. *** Tax bills that property owners in Leelanau County will start receiving in July will have risen at least 10% over two years, with another substantial increase expected in 2025 due to stubbornly high inflation. *** Leelanau County residents looked to the skies on Monday for the near total solar eclipses that graced clear peninsula skies. Over a hundred people ventured out to the Dune Climb in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to witness the event. The eclipse started with the moon crossing into the path of the sun at 1:57 p.m., traveling from right to left with the maximum solar coverage of 86.75% occurring at 3:11 p.m. *** Members of the public filled the seats at the Leelanau Township board meeting Tuesday evening — not for any of the agenda items listed — but to voice their concerns about the potential development and placement of a communications tower on Kitchen Road in Northport. Mike McMillan, Leelanau Township supervisor, told the audience before public comment that the board is just as concerned as they are about the tower planning process, noting that they understand there’s been miscommunication and that they want to rectify the situation going forward.
APRIL 18, 2024:
Commissioners voted to increase their yearly salaries by 60% and their per diems by over 70% at their regular session on Tuesday, starting in 2025. This pay increase — their first in two-and-a-half decades — is intended in part to attract younger people to some soon-tobe- vacant seats on the county board. The salary for county commissioners increased from $5,000 to $8,000 and the salary of the county board chairman increased from $7,700 to $10,000 starting next year. Their per diem pay — fixed payments for attending meetings and conferences — also increased from $40 to $70 for a half day of work and from $70 to $120 for a full day, also starting in 2025.
*** Less than a week before the deadline to file as a candidate for the August Primary, there’s a noticeable lack of interest from the county’s most populated areas. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, there are no Republican/ Democrat races for Districts 4, 5, 6, 7 and no candidates at all for Districts 1, 2, and 3. Jamie Kramer, District 1 representative from Elmwood Township has said she doesn’t intend to run again. James J. O’Rourke, District 2 commissioner representing Bingham Township and a portion of Elmwood, has also stated he will not be seeking reelection.
Women’s/girl’s fancy, jingle, and traditional was one of the contest powwow categories, where juniors as young as six-years-old were able to dance and compete for prize money. Enterprise photo by Meakalia Previch-Liu
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians held its swearing-in ceremony for its newly elected tribal council members at the Leelanau Sands Showroom in Peshawbestown on May 17 Pictured from left to right: Anna Miller, Donna Swallows, Angelina Raphael, Sandra Witherspoon, Brian Napont, Jane Rohl, and Tina Frankenberger. Enterprise photo by Meakalia Previch-Liu
*** Liz Shimek was not a household name in Chicago when she played two seasons for the Sky. And there was no big WNBA signing bonus waiting for the 18th pick in the 2006 draft, who happened to be a Michigan State forward that led the Spartans to the NCAA women’s finals. It’s a different world for elite female basketball players today. Still, Liz — a mother of five whose last name is now Moeggenberg — holds no resentment about the timing of her playing days. *** Following a less than snowfi lled winter season, the annual Leelanau Enterprise snowfall contest came to a close on Tuesday, with the first place winner announced as Bruce Wallis of Suttons Bay. Wallis guessed 60 inches for the total snowfall in the 2023-24 winter season, and will receive a $200 prize.
APRIL 25, 2024:
Two years ago, Leelanau County contracted the Opelika, Alabama- based Point Broadband to providehigh speed internet to “unserved” and “underserved” homes in the county by the end of 2023. Unfortunately, the project has turned into something of a debacle. About three-and-a-half months into the new year, only about 38% of the “unserved” areas are now serviceable, and the county consultant no longer seems to believe they’ll be done by the end of 2024 either. *** A Leelanau legend was lost this past week as Scott Craig, 89, passed away leaving the legacy of a storyteller. Craig, a retired television producer and award-winning documentary filmmaker for CBS, NBC, PBS, Turner Broadcasting and HGTV, died on Thursday April 18. *** What a difference a week makes. A flurry of activity before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. filing deadline has set the table for the August Primary ballot for countywide offices. And an interesting table it will be. There are races for nomination in four of the seven county commissioner seats. Among them, the District 1 seat, now held by Jamie Kramer, which has three declared candidates: one former commissioner and the other, whose name has been in Enterprise deadlines often. Rick L. Robbins is seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat which covers Elmwood Township. He won the seat as a Republican before being unseated in the 2022 election. Former county administrator and Elmwood Township trustee Deb Allen, has also filed for the Republican nomination as had Tim McNalley. *** The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SBDNL) favorite inhabitant is taking back its shoreline as the endangered Piping Plovers first sightings were had earlier this month on April 9. SBDNL had exciting news on April 21, according to plover lead Erica Adams. “A female who is usually up in the Sleeping Bear Point area arrived yesterday and she is now officially the oldest female Great Lakes Piping Plover at 15 years,” Adams said. Her band is a combination of OS GB XY, and her nickname is Gabby. She ties two 15-year-old males to be the oldest piping plover to nest at SBDNL. The piping plover has been labeled endangered by the federal government ever since the 1990s.
MAY 2, 2024
With the sunny weather predicted throughout the region in the days ahead, people can expect to catch the best views of cherry blossoms in bloom this weekend.
Nikki Rothwell, Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center extension specialist and coordinator, said from her facility’s inland location off S. Center Highway, sweet cherries are 95-100% in bloom. Depending on the variety, she said she’s also seen Benton cherry trees, a sweet variety, at almost full bloom. While tart (Montmorency) cherries will be blossoming most likely by Friday. *** The numbers suggest that crime rates are steady in Leelanau County, according to an annual report published by the county sheriff ’s office last month.
The total number of index crimes in the county went down last year compared to 2022, from 174 to 147. *** A missing Centerville Township woman was found Friday after a search which included use of K-9 and drone. Deputies responded to a report Friday afternoon in reference to a missing female Alzheimer patient who went for a walk about 10 a.m. and did not return home.
MAY 9, 2024
Voters in the Suttons Bay School District supported a $18.3 million bond proposal by a 55-45% margin Tuesday.
“We are grateful to the voters of our district for supporting this bond proposal that will positively impact every student and family in our district,” Superintendent Casey Petz said.
“Yes” votes outnumbered “no” votes 776-628. *** The debate of the final 4.2mile “Segment 9” of the Heritage within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SBDNL) continues as opposition questions the impact on the environment and cost of the major project that is slated for 2025. *** Sandra Witherspoon was elected as the new Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) tribal chairman, according to the 2024 general unofficial election results from Tuesday. Witherspoon received 235 votes (57.2%), with tribal councilor incumbent Brian Napont earning 176 (42.8%) of the total votes. The current tribal chairman, David Arroyo, did not run for reelection, and will serve until his term ends on May 17.
MAY 16, 2024
Fireworks at the Village of Empire monthly workshop meeting lit up the room as council, committee, and community members sparred over possible regulations regarding Short-Term Rentals (STRs).
“Since this whole short-term rental thing has started, there’s been nothing but pure contention and fighting between neighbor and neighbor about this,” Tina Dunphey said in a public comment.“This is such a hot mess. I was born and raised here ... I have never, ever, ever witnessed anything so incredibly destructive to the community as this topic alone.” *** A decrepit but popular dock used by boaters visiting Leland has been removed with little chance that it will be replaced. The 96-foot dock, which lined the Leland River at a stateowned boat launch located between the Bluebird and Riverside restaurants, was removed on April 10 by a MDNR crew. The project had been granted a permit by the state Water Resources Division of the Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy.
MAY 23, 2024
Former Elmwood Township Supervisor Jack Kelly filed a complaint at the 13th Circuit Court.
Kelly alleges the Elmwood Township Board violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act (OMA) at their February regular meeting, where they rescinded their directions to create a zoning district prohibiting short term rentals (STRs) after speaking with their attorney in closed session. *** Headed out fishing in Leelanau County over Memorial Day weekend? Excluding effects of weather — sunny or cloudy, east or west wind — the timing seems to be teeing up for a good day on the water. As evidence, consider results of the Lake Leelanau Narrows Resort Walleye Tournament held Saturday. Twelve of 14 boats registered walleyes, and the top seven places checked in with at least five walleyes.
MAY 30, 2024
Over 130 graduates walk this weekend graduations this weekend will be full of pomp & circumstance as Glen Lake, Suttons Bay, Leland, Northport, Lake Leelanau St. Mary and Leelanau School all will host their respective graduation ceremonies with over 135 students earning the right to walk across the stage. The number dropped by nearly 20 from 2023 to 2024 with 156 graduating last year. *** Jaime (Seymen) Robinson knew early on that she wanted to be a teacher.
“I was in high school when I discovered I have a gift explaining math to kids,” said Robinson, a home-grown woman who graduated from Suttons Bay in 2000. “I helped out with Kids Club (after school program) and discovered I love kids.” Robinson is one of 10 teachers who will be recognized next week as Outstanding Educators of the Year by Northwest Education Services and TBA Credit Union and Traverse Connect. *** The newest business in town is ready to be a hole-in-one as the new River Club Glen Arbor (RCGA) mini-golf course opens its doors just in time for the summer rush later this month. It’s been a long time coming to make a dream, a reality for founders Mike and Gina Sheldon.
“We’re beyond excited to launch this new entertainment experience to the good people of northern Michigan,” said Mike Sheldon, RCGA chief executive officer. “Our hope is that families and friends have as much fun enjoying the park as we’ve had building it.”
JUNE 6, 2024
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners interviewed seven people who applied to fill the most important non-elected position in county government, county administrator and chief financial officer (CFO) last week. Of these seven, four were chosen to advance to a second round of interviews: Mark Justin, Kip Belcher, Michael Belsky, and Tracy Byard. *** The first of four Leelanau County housing focus group meetings took place at the Glen Lake Community Library in Empire with more than 25 residents gathered for the community discussion this week.
The focus groups are hosted by Housing Ready Resource Support for Leelanau County with Yarrow Brown of Housing North and Ryan Kilpatrick with Flywheel Momentum all participating in these meetings. *** Pam and Steve Bardenhagen of Bardenhagen Berries in Lake Leelanau are ramping up for yet another delicious strawberry harvest.
Steve says they will be able to begin the harvest this weekend with a limited supply hitting the long-standing, family run farm stand at 7990 E. Horn Rd. throughout the weekend and early next week.
JUNE 13, 2024
This Father’s Day will mean significantly more for the family of Panta Leon.
It comes four months after the Gill’s Pier man was kidnapped from a commercial bus in his native Mexico. Panta was traveling to visit with family in Ceylea, a town in the northcentral area of the country. His youngest sister had died the previous month and he wanted to be there with family. He was severely beaten, requiring hospitalization before making the trip home to his wife and children.
*** And after the latest round of interviews, the board reduced it further to just two people: Michael Belsky and Kipling Belcher.
Belsky and Belcher were invited for additional interviews starting at 10 a.m. Friday, pending a background check by the county board chairman and county consultant Chet Janik. *** The Leland Township Board took action this week after complaints that property owners north of the Reynold St. public access are not playing by the rules. This is not the first goaround about the Reynolds Street access.
In December 2019 lawsuit was filed by property owners immediately adjacent to the popular beach access asserting that Reynolds Street was platted such that all of the land along Lake Michigan adjacent to their property is private — unlike many other public road ends.
JUNE 20, 2024
Commissioners have been looking for a qualified candidate to fill a combined county administrator/chief financial officer (CFO) position since March.
So far, they’ve interviewed seven candidates for the position, but are not prepared to extend a job offer to any of them. Additional interviews are not expected until the fall or early winter. *** After reviewing the findings of a Michigan State Police (MPS) investigation, the Leelanau County Prosecutor’s Office has decided not to prosecute the county’s Energy Futures Task Force for allegedly violating the Michigan Open Meetings Act (OMA). Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tristan Chamberlain wrote a conclusion on the Michigan State Police report.
“Criminal prosecution requires an ‘intentional’ violation,” Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tristan Chamberlain wrote in his memo. “Based on the law and the information provided, criminal prosecution is not appropriate. There is insufficient evidence to show this was an intentional violation.”
••• Growers are talking, asserting and hoping to turn around their industry through a looseknit group going by the name of the Cherry Grower Alliance.
Twenty-two people met at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, with about two thirds of attendees cherry farmers or employed by them. Most of the discussion centered on providing direction for the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), which is expected to set a marketing order requiring growers to not deliver a portion of their crop to markets. *** An 11-year-old child from Illinois was killed in a single car accident in Kasson Township.
Deputies from the were dispatched to the 10000 block of South Maple City Road on a report of a single car crashing into a tree.
As a result of the crash, the driver, along with a 79-year old front seat passenger, and an 11-year old passengers were transported to Munson Medical Center for treatment of severe injuries. Upon arrival at Munson, the 11-year old was pronounced deceased.
JUNE 27, 2024
A squabble over fees for use of township park land could cancel this year’s Cedar Polka Fest. Organizers of the event, the Polka Fest Foundation/Cedar Chamber of Commerce, have called foul a proposal to charge the organization money for use of the Cedar Community Park for the Polka Fest, scheduled for Aug. 22-25.
“If we cancel … I don’t know if it will ever come back,” said Lisa Rossi-Brett, executive director of the Polka Fest Foundation, which was established for tax reasons as it is a non-profit organization. *** Nearly 70 people gathered at the Leland Township Library for an informative meeting called “Heritage Trail Perspectives” that focused on “Segment 9” from Bohemian Road to Good Harbor. During the meeting, Krista Phillips, MDOT project manager of ‘“Segment 9” said construction has been pushed from this fall to the spring of 2025. *** Leelanau sweet cherries are ready to pick, and in plenty of time for the Fourth of July. Sweets got an early start with a warm spring, and never looked back, according to Centerville Township grower Greg Williams. Dalzell Ice Cream ready for summer.
