Sweet Tart McKee, a Norwegian Forest cat and the former Mayor of Omena from 2018 – 2021, died on Christmas Eve. She was the fifth Mayor of Omena, the first feline after four dogs, and the first to become an international sensation. Following her election, she received emails and letters from around the world, and appeared on websites in many countries, with the news of her election translated into quite a few languages. She was even talked about on the Anderson Cooper 360 show, along with her Vice Mayor, Punkin Anderson-Harder. She was 14 ½ years old.
Still a tiny kitten, Sweet Tart was found by Kanda and Harold McKee on Sweetest Day in October, 2009, when they were walking on the TART Trail near Hansen’s Plaza. Hence the name Sweet Tart. They heard a mewing sound, and then spent a couple of hours getting her to leave the shelter of hiding place in the bushes. Without thinking about the double entendre at the time, the name served her well in her political career in cherry country.
Sweet Tart began her rise to power when she secured the newly created position of Second Vice Mayor in 2015, and became First Vice Mayor later that year when Mayor Polly Loveless, a Golden Retriever, died and First Vice Mayor Parker Joyce, also a Golden Retriever, acceded to Mayor. She ran again in 2021 and was elected Second Vice Mayor.
The Omena Mayoral race is a fundraiser for the Omena Historical Society (OHS), and Sweet Tart certainly did her part in making those successful as one of the top voter getters in three elections. She also holds the distinction of being the first and only official feline in the Northport Dog Parade.
Our deepest sympathies go to Kanda and Harold, who are mourning her loss. They were her campaign managers, parade-cart pullers, and servants extraordinaire – as are all cat people. Sweet Tart was beloved by, and renowned in, the Omena community, and she will be missed.
This holiday season has been a busy one in and around Omena, with lots of family visits. Annette Deibel enjoyed seeing almost all of her family from around the country – not all at the same time. All three of her daughters and all but one of her grandchildren were able to get here. Andrea and Mike Muladore, from Saginaw, wound up the holiday season here in Omena. They and their daughter, Megan, also from Saginaw, rang in the New Year with Annette. Megan was here on her holiday break from teaching high school French and Spanish.
It’s an exciting football season for Michiganders with the Lions headed to the postseason, and UM headed to the NCAA National Championship. But for some Omena families, there are divided loyalties. The Smith/ Renz family have some deep ties to Washington, with Electa (Smith) Powell living in Mukilteo. Two of her three sons attended UW, which will be facing off against UM for the Championship. Cynnie Renz First raised her family in Snohomish, Washington.
In the NFL play-offs, both Debby and I spent part of our growing up years in Milwaukee, and, as a result, are die-hard Green Bay Packer fans. We are excited, though, to see the Lions in the play-offs this year.
Happy Birthday this week to twins Ryan Harris and Sara Harris, and to their grandfather, John Harris. Happy Birthday also this week to Tabitha Pearson, Bryn Waskiewicz, Judy Balas and Richard Bronke.
