5 YEARS AGO January 2, 2020
Justin Bembeneck apologized Monday to victims of the county’s most noteworthy crime of 2019.
But this had little impact on the length of his sentence. Bembeneck will spend the next 30 to 60 years with the Michigan Department of Corrections for his role in the robbery and assault of an elderly couple and two adult men in Cedar on Jan. 10, 2019. “I apologize to the Rosinski family,” he said. *** A new Verizon Wireless telecommunications tower might be built on the Leelanau County Government Center campus this year that could substantially improve notoriously spotty cell phone service in parts of the county. At its regular monthly meeting in December, the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners voted 5-1 to authorize County Administrator Chet Janik to engage in negotiations
with Verizon officials about the potential deal.
10 YEARS AGO
January 1, 2015
Friends and family of Jozell and Doug Rexroat will gather in front of their television at noon today. But it won’t be to watch Michigan State face Baylor in the Cotton Bowl. The Lake Leelanau couple will watch as their eldest son, Ben, and 19 other seminarians and priests from Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, serve Mass for Pope Francis in Rome. The Mass will be televised at noon on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). *** People the world over are bidding adieu to 2014 and welcoming the new year. As the ball drops in Times Square, New York City, for the 107th time, local revelers will ring in the New Year with a ball drop of their own. County residents won’t have to go far, as communities and businesses are planning a full slate of activities to close out 2014 in style. The third annual ball drop in Northport is set to begin at 10 p.m. at the corner of Nagonaba and Shabwasung streets. There will be live music as well as hot coffee and cider, snacks and nibbles provided by Lelu Cafe.
25 YEARS AGO January 6, 2000
A Northport family is welcoming home the first millennium baby of the area. Holly Elizabeth Sleder, daughter of Chris and Teresa Sleder, was born at Munson Medical Center only four days after the New Year. *** The first major snowstorm of this winter hit Monday and Tuesday morning, closing schools and causing havoc on county roads. Snowfall totals recorded at Suttons Bay and Maple City Road Commission garages each noted that 10 inches fell Monday night.
50 YEARS AGO January 2, 1975
David Gill Leelanau County undersheriff and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning have announced that $9,310 in federal funds have been approved for an improvised ambulance communication system for Leelanau County. The $9,310 represents 75% of the total project cost. The county will provide the remaining 25% for a total project cost of $13,300. *** Joseph Petroskey of Cedar, has been appointed new Leelanau County Building Inspector. Petroskey, who has had extensive experience in the builing contracting business was appointed at the Monday, December 30 board meeting in the courthouse at Leland.
75 YEARS AGO January 5, 1950
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Larsen of Good Harbor, after barely escaping with their lives, shivered in night clothes in the family car before dawn New Year’s Day and watched their house bum to the ground. *** SET RECORD Sheriff Robert White and deputies set a new record in December. They wrote more than 150 driver’s licenses . . . the most for any one month that Sheriff White recalls in his 11 years in office.
100 YEARS AGO January 1, 1925
A load of hay came into town yesterday. *** John Kinnucan returned home at N. Mantiou Island last Monday in a storm and smashed the cabin on his boat going out of the river. *** Mr. J.J Kilwy was standing on the runner of the sleigh moving a block of wood, fell and fractured
several ribs.
