5 YEARS AGO January 24, 2019
Computer systems in the Leelanau County Government Center virtually “exploded” Sunday when a computer virus that officials were certain had been removed last month suddenly launched a second wave of attacks. County employees and department heads were still reeling from the online assault this week. Specially trained troopers from the Michigan State Police Cyber Command Center are investigating. A state-sponsored team of information technology (IT) experts was being deployed this week from Lansing to Leelanau County to assist. *** The book has been closed on a lingering chapter in the story of the Village of Empire. The Village Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a $25,000 settlement in a 2018 lawsuit filed by Traci Cruz, former village clerk. The action came after a nearly 45-minute closed door session. Trustee Maggie Bacon came forward with a motion when the council returned to open session.
10 YEARS AGO January 23, 2014
Controversy over the process for providing holiday bonuses to Village of Northport employees is stirring again after village President Barbara VonVoigtlander stated that in past years cash — not checks — was handed out at Christmas. VonVoigtlander approved — and apparently still approves — of that practice. *** A colder-than-average winter and a propane shortage is causing a strain in the heating budgets of county households. There are several programs in place to help people through what is turning into one of the roughest winters in at least 18 years. The average daily temperature so far in January was 18.2 degrees at the National Weather Service co-op station near Maple City — some five degrees colder than normal, with low temperatures in the single digits predicted to hang on into next week. *** What’s being portrayed as a gamble for Ford Motor Company has already turned into a good investment for a Northport manufacturer. Master Craft Extrusion Tools of Northport has been manufacturing dies that will be used to create aluminum parts for frames used in the 2015 Ford F-150 pick-up. The contract bodes well for the future of Master Craft, according to its owners Don and Diane Allington, and may help lead to the creation of more jobs. The company now employs 12 people.
25 YEARS AGO January 28, 1999
More than $1 million will be awarded to local units of government as part of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians’ semi-annual 2-percent gaming revenue allocations. Projects include upgrading athletic facilities in Suttons Bay and helping to build a hall for Suttons Bay Township. *** The James Spinniken family proposes an 18-hole golf course on their farmland west of Suttons Bay along M-204. They are seeking a Zoning Board of Appeals variance to allow construction of the golf course on 118.8 acres.
50 YEARS AGO January 24, 1974
A newsletter distributed to Suttons Bay School District taxpayers by Suttons Bay Public Schools claims that the school stands to lose substantial state aid “if valuations go up sharply and millage remains the same.” As explained in an example by Tony Hoffman, school superintendent, given in the newsletter. *** With rising prices everywhere, are you too broke to return those two-months-overdue library books? Do you have the money but feel embarrassed to return them so late? The Suttons Bay-Bingham Library has the solution. From Feb. 2 through Feb. 16 you can return those books without paying the fine. Remember — there’s a drop-box row: you don’t have to make a special trip during library hours.
75 YEARS AGO January 22, 1948
Snow conditions for skiing at Sugar Loaf are the best the hill has ever had since it began operations over a year ago, according to Han Peppi Teichner, Sugar Loaf project manager. An average of two and one-half feet of excellent snow cover the slope, affording the best opportunities for skiing and toboganning. *** Northport Ferry Project Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce Members of the Northport Chamber of Commerce are now studying the possibility of reopening the former Northport-Manistique ferry line, which was in operation some 30 years ago. The men believe that the amount of transportation to the northern peninsula, now carried almost solely by the Straits, warrants the opening of another ferry service.
100 YEARS AGO January 24, 1924
Leelanau County students at Western State Normal, Kalamazoo, are joining with others from this part of the state in organizing a Northern Michigan club on the Normal campus. Largely the upstate students are banding together to become acquaint but one of their chief aims is to aid new students from this section who come to the Normal as strangers in Kalamazoo and unfamiliar with college ways. *** We have had no train service since last Friday, we are informed that the snow plow jumped the track about three miles south of Suttons Bay, they expect trains running by Friday if we do not have another storm.
