5 YEARS AGO January 16, 2020
The latest forecast for Lake Michigan water levels will test the age-old theory of “what goes up must come down.” Over the past two years Lake Michigan levels have risen at an unprecedented rate, and the latest prediction from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) calls for high-water records to be broken monthly through June — at least. The impacts of high water prompted three U.S. Representatives from Michigan including Jack Bergman, whose district includes Leelanau County, to meet Friday in Washington to discuss solutions with federal officials. *** Rising Lake Michigan water levels and inland water tables are causing local units of government to start spending money they hadn’t budgeted for this year on measures to cope with erosion and flooding. The Leelanau County Road Commission last week struck deals with the Village of Suttons Bay and Suttons Bay Township to help pay for a $107,000 project to repair “heavily damaged shoreline” on South Shore Road along the south end of Suttons Bay.
10 YEARS AGO
January 15, 2015
History was delayed for five votes, but eventually the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners elected the county’s first Democratic chairman. Acting at its annual organizational meeting, commissioners on Tuesday tapped Peachy Rentenbach following a quirky election process that started with confusion and ended when eventual Republican vice-chair Melinda Lautner reached across the aisle to change her vote. *** Solon Township has yet to schedule a public hearing on a proposal to join a proposed fourtownship fire department, and its board has so far been reluctant to take the step. A review of a tape of the Township Board’s last meeting indicates that some Solon trustees have misgivings about the change, even though preliminary minutes state the board offered conceptual support.
*** Fruit industry leaders, researchers and growers were full of praise this week for Jackie Baase of Solon Township, who is retiring after 34 years of service at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center. Baase was recognized during a special program Tuesday at the Northwest Michigan Orchard & Vineyard Show held in Acme at the Grand Traverse Resort.
25 YEARS AGO
January 20, 2000
The Michigan Special Olympics “outgrew” Sugar Loaf Resort for its winter games. Growth was the reason named by Special Olympics public relations manager Marcy Lindberg for moving the games to the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme. *** Apparent disparities between “contributions” and “recorded expenses” in the 1996 campaign finance statement of Prosecutor Clarence K. Gomery have been discovered. A 4-page color insert touting Gomery’s qualifications was published in the Preview, Leelanau Enterprise, and Traverse City Record-Eagle. However, the finance statement fails to show payments to the Preview, which was then under a different owner. It would have likely been the single greatest expense incurred by Gomery
during the election.
50 YEARS AGO January 16, 1975
More than $1 million damage to private and public property in Leelanau County was caused over the weekend by the high winds and snowstorm which hit Leelanau County and the Grand Traverse area, according to an estimate by William Chatfield of Leland, emergency services coordinator for the county. *** Leelanau County is slated to receive and estimated $413,000 to relieve unemployment here under the Comprehensive Employment Training Act. That fact was announced to the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners at its regular meeting Tuesday by Board Chairman Arthur Borsch.
75 YEARS AGO January 19, 1950
Winds, accompanied by nearzero temperatures, howled their way across Leelanau county midweek, on the tail of the season’s worst storm. Though the county missed the deep snow that plagued the state to the north, temperatures sank toward zero. Every day the weather was every kind except good. *** Empire expects work on the new Air Forces Base on the hill south of the village to start about February 1, following a visit by Army Engineers in the past few days. The Engineers inquired about the number of men available for labor. However... Mrs. Helen Aylsworth, owner of the property, states that the government has not yet paid for it.
100 YEARS AGO January 15, 1925
Let us not overlook a splendid opportunity to teach astronomy. A total eclipse of the sun, visible over quite a large section of Michigan, takes place on the 24th of next month. Let us utilize this in every possible way to teach the children those facts of astronomy which are intimately connected with our daily lives. Cordially Yours, T. E. JOHNSON *** Advertisement: PATCHIN & DUNCAN Attorneys at Law MONEY TO LOAN New Wilhelm Block, Room 405. Phone 105. Traverse City, Mich.
