Caughtcha being Good!

Jeff Gehres & Spencer Gehres

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Courtesy photo
Jeff Gehres’ heart skipped a beat as he looked at the boat bobbing in front of him. He had been fishing very early one morning a couple of weeks ago and found the 21-foot boat floating near Spencer Bay with no one on board. Had the owner encountered some kind of bad luck? He quickly called the Elk Rapids Police Department, which was able to find the owner by tracking the boat’s call letters. Apparently, it had broken free from its hoist during the windy night, and its owner was totally unaware that it was missing. Finally, in contact with the owner, who was unsure of how to get the boat back to its dock, Jeff assured them that he, along with help from his nephew, Spencer, could tow the boat back to its dock near Gay Road. “I am so thankful that no one was injured, and that there was no damage whatsoever,” said the owner. “And I am particularly grateful to Jeff and Spencer for all their help in getting the boat back to us.” Caughtcha being GOOD, Jeff and Spencer

Election results for August 2, 2022 Primary Election 

State
Governor
Gretchen Whitmer (D)            442

Tudor Dixon (R)                236
Ryan Kelley (R)                 62
Ralph Rebandt (R)            24
Kevin Rinke (R)                230
Garrett Soldano (R)            83

Representative in Congress 1st District
Bob Lorinser (D)                427
Jack Bergman (R)            581

Legislative
State Senator 37th District
Jim Schmidt (D)                38
Randy Bishop (D)            29
Barbara Conley (D)            360

John Damoose (R)            267
William Hindle (R)            65
George Ranville (R)            73
Triston Cole (R)                252

State Representative 104th District
Cathy Albro (D)                427

John Roth (R)                368
Katie Kniss (R)                260        
County Commissioner 1st District
William Hefferan (R)            314
Caleb Pero (R)                320

Township Trustee
Matt Soper (R)                519

Delegate to County Convention
Ellen Baird (D)                348
John Boals (D)                367
Myrna Holland (D)            362
William Holland (D)            348
Myra Muth (D)                343
Stuart Travis (D)                326

Gary Blackmore (R)            269
Ed Boettcher (R)                304
Laura Bogdan (R)            202
Debra Dennis (R)                158
Kathy Dwan (R)                121
Bruce Finlayson (R)            174
Judy Fishbeck (R)            175
Sharon Gutknecht (R)            209
Ward Gutknecht (R)            218
Dietrich Heyde (R)            166
Linda Heyde (R)                169
Maryanne Jorgensen (R)            293
Susan Leassner (R)            144
Janet Rentsch (R)                128
Danny Shaw (R)                216 
Neva Veliquette (R)            363

Proposal – County
Continued Funding 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone and Central Dispatch
Yes                    935
No                    133

Township – Road Proposal
Yes                    812
No                    247

ELK RAPIDS TOWNSHIP
Township Update

By Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer

The Elk Rapids Township Board met Monday, August 8 at 9 a.m. Laura Shumate stepped up to announce to the board that Elk Rapids has been designated a Monarch City USA or more accurately a Monarch Village USA. Elk Rapids is the second city in Michigan to hold that title. She described the small ceremony held on the first day of Harbor Days with the tagged butterfly release
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The meeting agenda and consent agenda were approved. With the Police Chief not present, a brief list was given regarding the 911 report. There was a total of 109 calls for the month of July. The calls included 17 911 checks, 3 animal bites, 4 driving complaints, 6 general assists and 22 traffic stops. The Ambulance Report had 34 calls with 25 transports. Fire Chief Williamson cited 15 incidents in the month of July. The department still has 19 staff. Harbor Days went well. The department helped with the directing of traffic for the first time. The chief described some of the new training coming up this winter for the new recruits as well as yearly training for the current staff.

The board approved Zoning Ordinance Amendment number 2202-01, which would allow the Planning Commission to be able to review any plans that would have more than 25% of the trees on the property removed. The payment of various construction bills related to the Township Sewer System was approved as well as the transfer of funds to various expenditure accounts. Treasurer Mike Szymanski read off the list of transfers and gave details (further information is available in the online packet).

The board approved the milage resolution ballot language. There is a lot of maintenance work that needs to be completed in the approximately 21-acre cemetery. One of the biggest is the irrigation system. With so many breaks in the line, four spigots were installed recently. However, someone hooked six hoses together and pulled out one of the spigots. Another major expense will be the dirt needed to even out the land.

Residents on Swan Point Road voiced complaints about the short-term rentals in their area. The renters were piling up trash, trespassing and parking more vehicles than allowed in the subdivision agreement for driveways. Various suggestions were brought up. The Attorney’s Report included a brief description of the petition to the court regarding the transfer of the library from one public entity to another in the dispute over who owns the library.
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Announcements and Correspondence Clerk Shelley Boisvert thanked the poll workers and staff for a smooth election. Treasurer Mike Szymanski stated that the Government Building’s computer systems needed to be updated, but it would have to come out of next year’s budget. The cost would be approximately $6,000. Road work is running a little behind schedule and should continue through August. The next meeting will be Monday, September 12 at 9 a.m.

Around Town
with Rob Ford

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A small piece of paper, slightly larger than a three by five card adorned with 18 boxes, each including a single number – the distance from the tee box to the middle of the green. When I began playing golf in the 1970s, that’s about all the information a player was given on their way to the first tee. 
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Once on the course, aside from the markers indicating where to stand when teeing off, players were fortunate if a bird house or a large rock had been placed to inform them when they were 150 yards from the center of the green.  Practically from my first season forward, a six iron was the club I would use to cover that distance. A few steps closer than 150, use a shorter club; a few steps farther out than 150, use a longer club. Other than those rudimentary instructions, the rest was up to players to calculate. 

During the golf course construction boom of the late 20th century, engraving yardage distances upon sprinkler heads gave players a little more information. Where I had once just paced off how far I was from the 150-yard birdhouse, I could now glance at various sprinkler heads throughout the course and have a better idea how far away from the green I was. This was more help and saved pacing things off from the 150-yard markers. The scorecards that golf courses issued improved with time as well. Course layouts, individual hole schematics, and even close-up diagrams of what the putting green looks like joined those little score boxes. 

Even equipped with more information, from 150 yards away, the six iron was still the club for me.

About ten years ago, GPS joined the free golf course information chat. As if bird houses, sprinkler heads and better scorecard graphics weren’t enough, we now could triangulate with satellites to better inform our golf course decisions. No matter where you are on a given hole on a given course, in the palm of your hand a golfer can know precisely how far away they stand from any number of places, not just the center of the green. 

And yes, even knowing that, I still hit a six iron about 150 yards.

Last month, for the first time, I actually paid money for even more information. 

In the form of a new Bushnell rangefinder, standing nearly anywhere on a hole with decent line of sight access to the flag, this golfer knows exactly how far away the flag is. The scorecard still affords access for the green diagram, and my phone app still works for information regarding the depth and dimensions of the green, so if anything goes wrong, it’s not the golf course’s fault. Many courses still feature those large rocks or birdhouses as visual aids, but why guesstimate when you can find out the exact distance?

Here’s why: I still hit a six iron 150 yards, more or less, but otherwise I’m not that good at golf.

Not just in golf, but in life, too, the urgency to know more information has always overshadowed the ability to put that information to use. Advancements in information of all kinds have been greeted with open arms; taking the time to practice or learn more in order to better employ that new information, not so much. In other words, it’s great to know things like exactly how far away a certain target is, but if you aren’t able to precisely navigate your way that far, then perhaps precision isn’t the problem. 

Just know though, no matter the source of information, if I’m 150 yards out I’ll be hitting a six iron.

Finished and ready for play! 

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Bayside Park now has an outdoor shuffleboard court
In 1949 Ward and Ruby Eaton purchased a portion of land that is now the site of Bayside Park (near the Shell Station on US 31 and M 72 on the water). Ward loved shuffleboard and had his own concrete court poured soon after purchasing the property. He enjoyed many years of use until approximately 1971 when the couple decided to move to Florida so he could play shuffleboard year-round. The property went through a long process of selling since Ruby wanted to approve the buyer as she was insistent that it not be purchased for commercial use. The property sat vacant for years and became vandalized and overgrown.  It was eventually purchased by Acme Township.

A few years ago, two of Ward’s granddaughters (who have lived in Texas since 1980) were reminiscing about their grandparents’ property and learned that it was now a park. They decided to go and see if the shuffleboard court was still there. It took a while for them to figure out where the original house would have been and then they looked for the shuffleboard court. Unbelievably, through all the construction and the addition of the parking lot, it was there, hidden under a layer of dirt and myrtle. Granddaughter Kelley Hanna Stetzer took it upon herself to uncover the shuffleboard court, with the approval of Acme Township supervisor Doug White. Many family members and friends assisted in this endeavor, and remarkably, it was in very good condition considering that it was covered for 50 years! The final cleaning, staining, stenciling, sealing, and waxing have been completed and the court is ready for play! It is located between the sand volleyball court and parking lot behind the Shell Station.

If you are interested in playing, cues and discs will be available for use at the shuffleboard court. If you have your own equipment, the shuffleboard court is there for your use. Photos and text provided by Kelley Hanna Stetzer

A special thanks and 
acknowledgement to those who helped in this effort:

Acme Township
•    Doug White who approved this project
•    Ryan Lamont for his countless hours of helping remove debris, locate park benches/table and much more.

Station 8 Fire Department
•    Firefighters Spencer Scanlon and Dave Ginebaugh for bringing out the hoses to pressure wash the court

•    Lorrie Belanger Grof, for providing her tractor to remove the dirt and myrtle
•    Carl & Lisa from Paradise Pines Resort in Elk Rapids who patiently explained the process for renovation and for the use of their stencil.
•    Michelle Goetz at TC Senior Center who provided information and a resource for supplies
•    Allenshuffleboard.com, where equipment and supplies were purchased

Stetzer’s family, for their hours of hard labor in clearing away the debris
•    Nathan, Stephany, Jacob, Tyler & Aubrey Peplinski
•    Kyle & Travis Hanna
•    Joanne & Sherry Hanna for refinishing the benches and picnic table
•    Natalie Hanna Thorman for helping to find the shuffleboard court

Journey Through Time
with Jackie Weber

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Courtesy photo

VILLAGE OF ELK RAPIDS
DDA examines Rotary Park plans, food truck rules 

By Douglas P. Marsh, Contributing Writer

The Downtown Development Authority met for its final summer –Tuesdays session this week. The group discussed restructuring some of its committees, continued talking over a food truck ordinance proposal and received a request for funding toward improvements at the Rotary Park on U.S. 31. Deana Jerdee, executive director for local nonprofit Paddle Antrim, provided a presentation.

“Our mission is to protect our waterways by connecting people through paddle sports,” said Jerdee. “We are the hosts of the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, which ends here in Elk Rapids.”
Elk Rapids is among 20 partners, she said, who have contributed to over 100 miles of water trails with 84 access sites. The plans to improve Rotary Park, a key access point, have been in the works since 2019. The proposed improvements include parking spaces, a restroom with a changing area and a boat wash station. The project is 50 percent funded so far with contributions from the village, Rotary Club, and others, said Jerdee. She asked for $20,000 over two years from the DDA. DDA members had questions about particulars for Jerdee while voicing general support for the project.

“I’m in total support of this project,” said Christine Petersen, vice-chair. “This water trail is a really important part of our Trail Towns.”
After further discussion and consideration, the board opted to put the item onto the agenda for its next meeting. DDA member Janet Rentsch presented the latest updates to a proposed food truck ordinance for the village. Other DDA members and members of the public in attendance provided feedback, and this too was added to the next meeting’s agenda for further deliberation.
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The next meeting of the Downtown Development authority is planned for Wednesday, September 14 at 6 p.m. at the Government Center, 315 Bridge Street.

Village of Elk Rapids
Harbor Commission Update 

By Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer

The Harbor Commission met Monday, August 8 at 6:30 p.m. Both Harbormaster Mike Singleton and commission member John Berck were not present due to exposure to or having COVID. The meeting minutes were approved while the agenda saw the adding of a brief talk about the 13 Ways later in the meeting. Boater Jim Sarna spoke to the commission on pump out fees being the highest in the area. Sarna also pointed out that since the new pumps were financed from a grant the fee could be no more than $5 according to his research. Since the Harbormaster was not there to explain procedure, it will be brought to his attention and dealt with as soon as possible. Don Reynolds gave a recap of the fishing expo and expenses. He also thanked the Harbor Commission for the continued support. Rick Bellingham stepped up and discussed the 13 Ways, both the origins of the project as well as how the various commissions and boards use their 13 Ways plans to interact with each other. The Harbor Report was in the packet. 

Village Council liaison Charlie Pryde gave a brief summary of the last meeting. Police Chief Bean reported three road rage incidents, which took everyone by surprise. Also, a subcommittee was formed to help with transparency regarding the appointment of new officials. Elk Rapids Township has also requested more funds for the sewer construction. The Treasurer’s Report included Chairperson Charlene Hansen requesting a more detailed past history regarding the budget to help with the 5-year planning.

Old Business was a brief discussion regarding Coffee with the Commission. According to all the members things went well. Topics discussed included possible improvements in the harbor areas. New Business discussion included trying to figure out what needed to be done regarding the bioswale and rain gardens. When they were installed both were supposed to be low maintenance but now are beginning to look a bit seedy and unkempt. It was also questioned whether or not the gardens were doing what they had been designed to do. The decision was made to get in touch with the company that installed the gardens to see what could be done. It was also suggested that the Beautification Commission and GreenER be contacted for their recommendations.

All commission members agreed to take turns attending other commission and council meetings to share what is going on. Commission member Michele Spillane noted that Bass Lake is very low and needs help. Various pontoons in the lake might not be able to get out without help. The next meeting will be Monday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m.

MILTON TOWNSHIP
Progress on sewer study, broadband internet agreement, short-term rental monitoring 

By Douglas P. Marsh, Contributing Writer

The Milton Township board of trustees gathered in reduced formation on Monday as supervisor Lon Bargy and clerk Sandra Ball could not attend due to illness. The meeting was trustee Tom Cole’s last – his resignation from the board was announced at its last regular meeting on July 11. 

“I will take this moment to thank Tom Cole for his 32 years of service. And your dedication – you have made a huge difference in the township,” said treasurer Liz Atkinson in lieu of Bargy’s report, as those present applauded. Cole, Atkinson and trustee Brett Pharo began the August 8 meeting reviewing and amending minutes from July 11 and two additional, special meetings of the board. Cole was absent from the special meetings; the other four trustees were present.

On July 13 the board met at 8 a.m. to discuss a sewer feasibility study for a district in the area of Cairn Highway and Cherry Avenue out to Easley Road. Ball and Atkinson moved to send notices and establish a 60 percent interest threshold to trigger next steps, which passed 3-1. Subsequent motions to put out a bid and formally define the target district passed unanimously. Then on July 27, the board held another brief meeting at 7:30 a.m. where they approved an application for a permit of right-of-way from Great Lakes Energy Cooperative.

Fire chief Jeremy Ball reported calls down 50 percent in July from the same month last year. Call volume is nearly the same this year to date compared to last, and the first weeks of August have been busy, he said. Bill Hefferan said the planning commission continues to discuss RV park ordinances and steep slopes, and he announced that the planning commission’s August meeting is canceled. Zoning assistant Jackie Peterson reported permits and violations and presented a bid for services from a company that helps track short-term rentals. It was approved. Township attorney Bill Derman took a moment to remark on the sheriff’s report, provided in the packet only to the board.

“The department report had 405 events in the month of July,” he said. “By far the largest was marine stops, at 186. That’s the Fourth of July Torch River party, in my opinion.”
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The next meeting of the board of trustees for Milton Township is scheduled for 7 pm. on Monday, Sept. 12 at 7023 Cherry Street in Kewadin.

All Things Clearwater 

In a nearly unanimous decision, the Clearwater Township board chose to opt out of becoming a charter township at a special meeting held last Thursday, August 4 at the community center. Opposing the decision was trustee Albert Keyes, who thought a better choice was to put the decision to the voters in this coming November’s election.

Clearwater, as well as all general law townships, are required to act regardless if they seek charter status or not once the population exceeds 2000 in an official census. While the board did not entertain public comment during a brief discussion of the decision process, it was mentioned that there are ways for the public to require a referendum on the matter by gathering signatures via the ballot initiative process should they so choose.

The board went on to create a reimbursable expenses escrow account – for applicants seeking zoning changes, land use permits, variances and other zoning issues – to hold fees that are used to offset costs incurred by the township during the permit completion process. Additionally, the board approved a $13,000 down payment on the township’s hall’s gymnasium sound proofing project, which is expected to be completed around the November election season.   Further discussion is expected on the soundproofing projects funding at the Capital Improvement Fund discussion scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 23, when the township’s electronics, snow removal and mowing equipment will be brought up for review.

The Clearwater Planning Commission will conduct a public forum on Monday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m. to gather input from the community regarding the future of the township. This is a great opportunity for Clearwater residents to bring their ideas and suggestions of what they would like to see the township focus on in the coming years. While growth is inevitable, it can be managed and directed with input and deliberate action by local leaders given clear mandates from the public. The commission will apply the community input into the formation of the upcoming future land use map for Clearwater Township and other zoning decisions that come before them throughout the community.
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Get involved in Clearwater at Clearwatertwp.com. Submitted by Jim Leffew

Books and a whole lot more 

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Anne Reboredo and her daughter, Maria, of New York City, share a comfortable corner at the Elk Rapids Library. Photo by Barb Mosher
By Barb Mosher, Contributing Writer

What’s new at the Elk Rapids District Library? A LOT, literally. The “Library of Things” has been serving card-holding patrons since June, enabling them to borrow, at no cost, non-traditional materials including power tools, yard and board games, crafting gadgets, and household items. Need a chain saw? An iron? A novelty cake pan? Pickleball paddles and balls? A thermal leak detector? Portable WiFi hotspot? Don’t head for a big box store. Go to the library. 
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The LOT concept — lending centers that meet the need for one-time projects or allow patrons to try something they’re considering purchasing — is a trend among libraries and other community entities and has been in the works at the ERDL since the beginning of the year. Structured in a manner similar to the existing ERDL catalog of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) kits available for check-out, the LOT is expected to expand as the community becomes increasingly aware of its offerings.

“A lot of libraries, especially with the pandemic, have been exploring what else they can offer to their communities,” said Aaron Hill, interim ERDL director. “Many have started libraries of things. We looked at what others have done and brainstormed with our staff. We purchased some things and Friends of the Library purchased some.”

It’s part of ERDL’s ongoing efforts to broaden the resources available to the public in keeping with its mission to steward and share a wide variety of materials – not just books – with the community. “Everything here is publicly owned, the books, the computers, the saw,” Hill explained. “We’re in the business of circulating publicly owned materials to the public and providing access to information. That’s what we do.”

While physical copies of books and periodicals are still in high demand, access to information increasingly comes by way of technology that’s developing and expanding at a rate demanding continuous updating. Hill has served for four years (and continues to serve) as the ERDL’s technology coordinator in addition to his interim director duties. He said adjusting to a “post-pandemic world” is the greatest challenge currently facing the library.

“We’re very limited in space,” he said. “There are a lot of people who want workspaces and the capacity for online conferences and things like that. We’re moving at a rapid pace to modernize so we can position our library to have not only New York Times bestsellers, but technological resources as well. It’s paradoxical that this 150-year-old building is becoming a technology center.”

Recent improvements include replacing WiFi network equipment with long-range access points so patrons can access the internet even from outside the library’s physical building 24 hours a day. A reconfiguration of a staff work area has opened up additional public meeting space. And while he and his staff are “neck deep” in summer activities and special events at the moment, Hill said the next few months will see the library transition from desk top computers to laptops at its workstations, the acquisition of Chromebooks and additional portable hot spots for patrons to borrow, and the offering of in-person and online classes in basic computer use.

“We’ll have five Chromebooks and 20 hot spots (to loan), so someone can come to library with nothing but a driver’s license and walk out with a Chromebook and a hot spot and be able to access the internet for free,” he said. “There are a number of members of our community who don’t have internet for whatever reason, so they can rely on these as their primary way to access it at home.”

A recent survey generated 500 hundred responses, a source of feedback the ERDL is eager to use to improve its services. For example, Hill said, a consistent concern expressed is slow acquisition of the most current bestselling books. To successfully address that issue, the library has contracted with a new vendor who will deliver within a couple of days the bestsellers from the weekly New York Times listing.

“We’re making a commitment to the public to have those books by the end of each week,” he said. “That’s a direct response to that survey.”

Satisfying the needs of its patrons is a high priority for Hill, his staff, and the ERDL board of directors. To supplement the survey, community conversation groups will be held at various locations August 24-27 to generate additional input; call the library at 264-9979 for more information and to sign up. In order to gather honest critiques along with constructive suggestions, no representatives of the library or its board will be present.

“I spent a lot of time working in retail with a big focus on customer service,” Hill said. “The library has an obligation, a mandate to offer the public the very best we can in whatever way we can. They’ve already paid for it. I really encourage people to participate in these community conversations, because the response from them will be incorporated into our strategic planning process. It’s a direct way for the public to determine what happens here.”

While Hill acknowledges that the library has been impacted recently by contention, he is encouraged by the clear evidence of enthusiastic support from a community committed to its success as a treasured asset.    

“There is still discussion about future projects,” he said, “but as interim director, I’m focusing exclusively on how to provide the very best library services right now. It’s all about wanting people to come here.”

And for those who do come, whether they’re needing to borrow a sewing machine for a home project, looking for a hard copy of a classical work of literature, or needing a quiet spot to search the internet, free coffee is now provided, one more way the ERDL is working to welcome residents and visitors to its unique setting overlooking Grand Traverse Bay.

For more information, visit the library in person at 300 Isle of Pines Drive, Elk Rapids; or call 232-264-9979; or visit www.elkrapidslibrary.org.

​Journey Home quilt show 

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Please join us at Renee’s House of Quilting to view the results of our Journey Home Quilt Challenge. All the contestants have done some amazing work. The entries will be on our Facebook Page for voting, starting August 8. We will have the quilters on-site on Saturday, August 13 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to talk about their journey in creating these works of art. The actual quilts will be on exhibit Friday, August 12, 11:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Please join to vote for your favorite. You can vote for as many as you like, but please one vote per quilt. 

In light of the recent traumatic events that have unfolded at former Residential Schools across Canada, Karen Erickson created “Every Child Matters” out of reverence to those grieving. This painting depicts two siblings who were finally set free after being grimly discovered at a Residential School. 
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The children who are shown holding hands were torn apart from each other, but now reunited as they make their way back home. Karen included beautiful imagery such as a moon and feathers to represent the First Nations, Inuit and Metis people joining together to guide the two siblings home.