5 YEARS AGO March 19, 2020
A Leelanau County man is one of two confirmed regional cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic. The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department (BLDHD) completed a contact investigation for the county’s first positive COVID-19 case and determined that, based on the individual’s activities, the risk to the public is very low. *** Leelanau County government offices will remain in operation during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but members of the public won’t be allowed inside the county government center beyond the lobby until at least April 6, the county board decided Tuesday night. Those who need to do business with the county government are being urged to do so by phone, email or online. Those who do show up inside the government center will find doors locked beyond the lobby.
10 YEARS AGO
March 19, 2015
For the first time in 15 years, spring is beginning with “above average” water levels in Lake Michigan. According to a report from the Army Corps of Engineers hydrology office in Detroit, this month has been the seventh consecutive month with above average water levels after a 15 year stretch of continuously below average levels. Currently, Lake Michigan water is about 22 inches higher than it was a year ago. *** To relatively new observers of Lake Michigan, the present and past winters may seem extreme while providing a rare combination of back-to-back ice coverings. To Mike Grosvenor, they remind him of childhood. “It has been unusual over the last 15 years or so, but when I was a kid growing up here, that was the status quo,” said Grosvenor, the third of four generations of his family to own and operate a ferry service connecting Leland to the Manitou islands. *** Signs of spring are on the horizon — including three annual township meetings planned for Saturday.Residents in three townships will have their say Saturday at their annual meetings, the first wave of eight scheduled in Leelanau County over the next two weeks. Cleveland and Glen Arbor inhabitants will meet at 10 a.m. at their respective township halls.
25 YEARS AGO
March 23, 2000
The most recent offer to resolve an ownership dispute over the county communications tower was formerly rejected by the county board Tuesday night. The board voted 5-0 to reject an offer from NPI Wireless to settle the dispute over the Kasson Township tower. *** Fallout from comments made during a discussion on a proposed wage and job classification study continued at Tuesday night’s meeting of the county Board of Commissioners. *** Concerns about a proposed 150-unit development on about 340 acres north of Empire have led to the formation of a group of village residents seeking to slow growth. Empire Village trustee Carol Vanderberg said a huge demand for more services from the village can be expected from new residents, who are also expected to fill a planned 50-unit development already under way west of the village on M-72.
50 YEARS AGO
March 20, 1975
Leland School Board has inter viewed architectural firms to submit tentative plans for a building addition to the present school facilities.The announcement by Superintendent Herman Dunseith comes in the wake of a proposed consolidation with Northport Public Schools which fizzled out after a scries of talks between the two school boards, this winter. *** The problem of how best to use and develop the Suttons Bay beach, marina and the former Burke Coal Dock area surfaced again at the Village meeting Monday night in Suttons Bay. An estimate of $3,000 from an achitect, was submitted as the cost of producing a master plan for the entire 10-acre park area.
75 YEARS AGO March 23, 1950
Leelanau County’s Road Commission whistled while it worked last week as snowfall passed the 70 inch mark for the season. This county became eligible thereby for a share of the $200,000 gas tax pool, divided each year among counties with more than 60 inches.Six fell last weekend. Leelanau County got $5,352 last year as its share of the pool. Snowfall then was 83 inches. *** Leelanau County had its most beautiful display of northern lights of the winter at four o’clock last Saturday Morning. The streamers, of many colors, were “bright enough to photograph” according to observers and filled the entire northern half of the sky.
100 YEARS AGO March 19, 1925
Mr. Reynolds of the Reynold lumber company of Cadillac was in town Tuesday contracting for material for the rebuilding of the River-Side and for several new cottages. *** Mr. Will and Carroll Stander left last Saturday for Grand Rapid to attend the funeral of their aunt Mrs. Van Zee mother of Ernest Van Zee of this village.
