Elk Rapids News and Features | Elk Rapids, Michigan

Caughtcha being Good!

Kevin Allen

Courtesy photo

Despite freezing temperatures and heavier than normal snowfall, Elk Rapids local, Kevin Allen, was out shoveling and clearing snow off the community rink recently.

“Kevin was there shoveling off the ice rink so that my kids and community members could use it,” said Taylor Krizmanich, a very appreciative parent.

When commended for his efforts, Kevin was quick to say that he isn’t the only one who contributes to keeping the ice rink clean. “I just happened to be there that day and saw that the rink needed a little TLC. I like to do it,” he said.

Caughtcha being GOOD, Kevin. Thank you!

Smith captures CMS Spelling Bee title

Spellers Adriana Smith, Benson Swift, Joe Cron, and Gracie Ward. Courtesy photo

After a hiatus of several years, the Cherryland Middle School spelling bee returned to Elk Rapids last Thursday night in the Lakeland cafeteria. Eighth-grader Adriana Smith was the picture of confidence and skill as she outlasted her competition to take the crown, her victory following a 42-round battle that nearly exhausted the official word list. Smith ultimately prevailed by correctly spelling the word “conscience.”

Along with the runner-up, sixth-grader Joe Cron, she will now advance to the regional bee to be held on March 14 at the Traverse City Opera House, where they will represent Elk Rapids against students from 21 other schools from throughout northwestern Michigan. The winner there will go on to compete in the big dance – the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. All participants took home an assortment of prizes generously donated by Chef Chuck’s and the Elk Rapids Cinema.

Celebrity judges Rob Ford, Aaron Timlin, and Stephanie Ewing were on hand to ensure accuracy and fair play and universally praised the good sportsmanship and competitive spirit demonstrated by the spellers. After her victory, Smith intimated that she “almost wanted to spell a word wrong” so Cron could win after putting up such an extended challenge. Needless to say, Elk Rapids will be well-represented at the next level.

The organizers of the bee are thankful to all who took part and hope to see the event grow in the coming years. “Spelling is becoming a lost art,” shared Beth Cron, “and we think it’s a form of academic competition worth preserving. So all you current 5th-7th graders, be ready to sign up next year!”

Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians announces local 2% funds

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians announced the distribution of $911,218.10 of gaming revenue allocation to local units of government. The dollars have been allocated to 57 applicants as part of the Tribe’s “2 percent allocation,” which takes place twice per year. Local organizations receiving awards are as follows:

Acme Township   $46,110.00
Funding to complete two projects at the newly acquired town hall: purchasing and implementing an ADA compliant audio system for the township’s new main meeting room; and constructing a portico overdoor entry to the main meeting room.

Antrim County’s Sheriff’s Office $15,000.00
Funding to expand the department’s Flock Camera System for 10 new cameras.

East Bay Charter Township $35,000.00                   Funding to support Elders Advisory Organization in engaging native elders for social activities and trips to provide cultural understanding. The organization provides holiday gifts cards and assistance for unexpected needs like home repairs, bereavement, heating, and cooling. Funding will also go to office supplies, conferences, rent, and more.

East Bay Charter Township $17,164.58
Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chair for East Bay Ambulance.

East Bay Charter Township $4,200.00
Mt. Holiday chairlift upgrade to a more environmentally responsible hydraulic system.

Elk Rapids High School $5,000.00
Funding for Project Graduation, which is an alcohol-and-drug-free event that will
begin after their graduation ceremony and ends the following morning after breakfast.

Whitewater Township $12,206.00
Funding for the Whitewater Township Fire Department to purchase three complete sets of PFAS free turnout gear.

Whitewater Township $5,413.40
Funding for the Whitewater Township Fire Department to purchase a Seek AttackPRO VRS plus truck charger and two Seek FirePRO 300 thermal imaging cameras.

Whitewater Township $8,820.00
Funding to complete safety upgrades at Whitewater Township Park and Hi-Pray Park, by installing two outdoor-rated public-access AEDs with paired first aid, trauma, and stop the bleed kits; replace aging swim buoys and lines, install signage for emergencies, and add modern water rescue devices to provide overall safety to all utilizing the parks.

Michigan poet visits Antrim County

Michigan poet Teresa Scollon will be in Antrim County on February 18 and 19 to share her newest collection of poems, No Trouble Staying Awake.

Scollon is a poet, essayist, and educator. Her fourth collection, No Trouble Staying Awake, was published by Cornerstone Press in 2025. She is also author of Trees and Other Creatures, To Embroider the Ground with Prayer, and a chapbook from Michigan Writers Cooperative Press. Scollon is a National Endowment for the Arts fellow, alumna and former writer-in-residence at Interlochen Arts Academy, and the 2018 Moveen Prize winner. She teaches the North Ed Writers Studio at Career Tech in Traverse City, Michigan, and co-edits the literary journal Dunes Review.

Scollon will be giving an interview about her work, with a Q and A with the audience to follow, at the Chalfonte Theatre (205 River Street) in Elk Rapids on Wednesday, February 18 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. The general public is welcome, free of charge.

VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
Village Council Meeting Update

By Mark McAlpine, Contributing Writer

The Elk Rapids Village Council met for their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the Government Center. Village Manager David Tait and Deputy Clerk Lori Dawson attended and participated in the meeting. All council members were present for the meeting. A motion was made and passed to accept the agenda as presented.

Village President Tom Stephenson presented the consent agenda. That agenda included minutes from the January 20 regular council meeting and December 5 special meeting of the Planning Commission. It also included an authorization to process payroll. A motion was made and passed to accept the consent agenda as presented.

As part of citizen comment, Village President Tom Stephenson offered a public apology to the community for information provided by the council at the last meeting related to harbor slip invoices sent out to 26 boat owners in the upper harbor. The 2026 invoices indicated a 100% increase over the 2025 rates. Several residents asked about the rates during public comments and were told that the increase should have been 10%. After reviewing the situation with harbor staff and DNR Waterways, Stephenson discovered that the 10% rate increase was not correct. For many years, those 26 slip holders had received a discounted rate because they did not enjoy electrical and other services provided to the full harbor. Stephenson indicated that the Harbor Commission would review the situation and present the 26 slip holders with a new 2026 rental agreement and rate.

Village Manager David Tait presented his manager report in the packet and provided clarifications. He reviewed the meeting with DNR Waterways staff and confirmed the information provided by Stephenson. Tait clarified questions that he has received regarding the Flock Safety cameras installed on US 31. Tait confirmed that the village had not received any requests from the federal government to access the Flock system. Tait also confirmed that the engineering report for the Elk Rapids dam and spillway has been completed. He indicated that the dam condition was listed as “Fair” with a low-risk, low-hazard rating. According to Tait, both the dam report and the spillway reports are available on the county website. Tait confirmed that the clerk position has been posted, and he is moving forward to develop a list of candidates for council review. He hopes to have that list available by February 15. A motion was made and passed to accept the Village Manager report as presented.

There was no unfinished business. In new business, the council reviewed and approved several resolutions. A motion was made and passed to approve resolution 2026-04 that authorizes a contract with Shoreline Power for the Ames Street Lighting Project. The contract is budgeted with a RAP 2.0 amendment agreement and will not exceed $593,163. Light and banner fixtures will be installed with the work completed by July 31, 2026.

Resolution 2026-05 was approved authorizing change order 7 to Molon Engineering related to the water and sewer system improvement projects. The change order will provide an adjustment in contract costs for the village. The council also approved a request from Cherry Capital Cycling Club to use Memorial Park as a base for the Ride Around Torch event scheduled for July 19, 2026.

The next Village Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Government Center. The village offices will be closed on Monday, February 16 in observation of Presidents’ Day.

Around Town
with Rob Ford

The line separating good and evil passes not through state nor between classes nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart and through all human hearts. –Alexander Solzhenitsyn

As the new year gallops along, already into February with the first day of spring waiting for us on the very next calendar page, my quest to figure out the modern world gallops along, too.

This week I’m wondering out loud just when did we all become such a big bunch of liars.

Wow…painting with a big ugly brush aren’t you, Mr. Ford?

Oh, come on. You haven’t lied to anyone about anything lately?

I lied to myself just a minute ago when I told myself I could have another cinnamon roll because I’d be going out to shovel the driveway later and that would burn more calories than the sweet roll. Ever step on a bathroom scale and rationalize a variety of things about why the number is a pound or two more than the last time you stepped on?

Liar, liar, with the big spare tire.

Yesterday, while chipping a few golf balls across my basement carpeting, I nearly convinced myself that I’m just a new seven wood, or a new three wood, or maybe a new driver away from breaking par. As much as golf is supposed to be a game of character, every golfer this time of year fights the urge to lie to themselves.

Liar, liar, your age and scores are both going higher.

Knowing how worried my dog gets when I leave the house, I just told him that I’d be right back even though I knew I’d be gone for the day. I also assured him that the bowl of dry dog food I just scooped for him was much tastier than the scoop I gave him yesterday. I’m sure he sees through my act, but in reality, the lie is more to make me feel better than him.

Liar, liar, you crazy dog pacifier.

By now I’m sure that you’ve been waiting for me to make this a political statement and I haven’t done it yet, primarily just because of that. The word “politics” is practically code for “lying” and I’ve grown tired of it. Not necessarily because I don’t like being lied to by our government leaders, but I dislike what it’s done to a large part of our population. Don’t get me wrong, the tales we’ve been told lately are as tall as they have been harmful. That said, the acceptance of those lies have been worse. Drawing satisfaction or twisting one’s mind to accept disparaging falsehoods as truth may well be among the worst of human behavior.

As a former Rotarian, I bet there are some reading this who might already be thinking of the very first question included in Rotary’s Four Way Test: Is it the truth? If it’s not, then don’t accept it, don’t repeat it, don’t twist it, and don’t tolerate those that do.

It’s why I both recall the quote at the top of the page and, if possible, try to recognize the lies whether I’m standing on a scale, swinging a seven iron, talking to a dog, or watching the news.

Liar, liar… just don’t be a liar.

The Latest from the Library

Did You Know?
The whole family is invited to Destination Storytime – a sledding party at Townline Ciderworks!! BYOS – Bring your own sled! Hot cocoa and a story outside. Bundle up for fun! Fri 2/6 5:00 p.m.

Monthly Volunteer Social – Sign up to have fun sprucing up the library! Share a snack, lend a hand, build a community! Sun 2/8 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Books on Tap: Sip, chat, and explore The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes in a cozy small-group discussion. Tues 2/10 6:00-7:00 p.m. @Short’s Pull Barn

Wednesday After School Program: Kids 8+ are invited to get creative for Valentine’s Day! Decorate delicious cookies and design handmade cards. Drop in. Wed 2/11, 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Coming up: Craft You Calm: Drop in and DIY bath salts and sugar scrubs – self-care, made by you. Sunday 2/15 1:00-3:00 p.m.

All February: Unwrap a Blind Date with a Book or Sweet Story Surprise for the kids.

Upcoming Programs:
•   Storytime: Fri 2/6, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
•   Destination Storytime: Fri 2/6, 5:00 p.m. @Townline Ciderworks
•   Sunday Knitters Club: Sun 2/8, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
•   Monthly Volunteer Social: Sun 2/8, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
•   Chess Mondays: Mon 2/9, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
•   Tech Help: Tues 2/10, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and Thurs 2/12, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
•   Books on Tap: Tues 2/10 6:00-7:00 p.m.
•   Puzzle Wednesdays: Wed 2/11, all day
•   After School Programs: Wed, 2/11, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
•   Storytime: Thurs 2/12, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
•   ER Knitters: Thurs 2/12, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
•   Library Trustee Meeting: Thurs 2/12, 5:00-6:00 p.m. @ER Government Building
•   Storytime: Fri 2/13, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

All programs take place at the Island House Library unless otherwise noted. Questions? Call 231-264-9979 or visit elkrapidslibrary.org. Subscribe to our newsletter! elkrapidslibrary.org/newsletter