BINGO rules at Newberry Assisted Living Community

Participants get ready to win BINGO!

Newberry Women’s Club held a special get-together this month. Seven club members assisted residents of Newberry Assisted Living Community with a few rousing rounds of the perennial favorite, BINGO.

Tuesday's winning ladies and gentlemen received quarters as they filled out their cards, crying “BINGO!” when they covered all four corners, had a postage stamp corner or the traditional up and down, side to side or diagonal winner. At the end of game time, six people covered all for... a $1 prize each.

Following the BINGO games, those who participated were treated to various confections baked and donated by the Newberry Women’s Club ladies. There was also soda, water or coffee, served with a smile by club members.

During the social time, several of the residents took time out from their treats to voice a special thanks to those who remembered the assisted living community and shared this time of gaming and merriment.

Enjoy the photographs posted below.

Following the event, club members held their regular monthly meeting, discussing membership issues, updates to the club constitution, state convention requests and answering questions about the information needed for the club’s annual report to the state.

Next month’s meeting, scheduled for Feb. 16, 10 a.m. at Zellar’s, will feature a presentation about Heifer International. Eleanor Lane and Pearl Schnorr will act as hostesses. Please call regrets to these ladies.

As always, all members are encouraged to attend, and to bring a friend!

Marie Nicholson gets ready to call BINGO.

Club secretary, Sandy Caswell sets up treat plates for BINGO players.

Club treasurer, Eleanor Lane leaves a table where she just delivered a plate full of scrumptious cookies.

Residents of Newberry Assisted Living Community discuss the day's BINGO while waiting for treats prepared by the ladies of GFWC Newberry Women's Club.

Not an empty seat was had for the annual BINGO party hosted by the ladies of GFWC Newberry.

Officials commemorate 10-year anniversary of Big U.P. Deal in Luce County

Gov. Rick Snyder uses his left-handed scissors to cut a ribbon on a new interpretive sign detailing the reconnection of the Two Hearted River. Watching, from left, are state Rep. John Kivela, state Sen. Tom Casperson, Helen Taylor, The Nature Conservancy’s Michigan state director and Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Editor's note: Additional photographs, courtesy of MDNR, follow the article.

  

In January 2005, The Nature Conservancy and several partners announced the “Big U.P. Deal” that preserved roughly 423 square miles of forest land for forestry, recreation and conservation through a unique public-private partnership.

Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Rick Snyder and other dignitaries, including the conservancy’s Michigan state director, Helen Taylor, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh, marked the 10-year anniversary of the historic land deal with a ceremony at the Mouth of the Two Hearted River State Forest Campground.

“This monumental land deal provided key environmental protection for landmarks across the Upper Peninsula, from the Porcupine Mountains in the west to Tahquamenon Falls and the Two Hearted River in the east,” Snyder said. “Michigan has set a model for responsible land management that supports healthier forests and rivers while creating more jobs and improved recreation opportunities.”

Under the $57.9 million Northern Great Lakes Forest Project – nicknamed the “Big U.P. Deal” – the conservancy facilitated the DNR purchase of several conservation easements over a period of years on about 248,000 acres located throughout eight counties in the Upper Peninsula.

In addition, the deal included the purchase of 23,338 acres in the Two Hearted River watershed in northern Luce County, helping to enhance an existing conservancy nature preserve.

At the time the deal was announced, Snyder was serving as a member of The Nature Conservancy Michigan Board of Trustees, a position he held from 2004-2009.

Managing the conservation easements under a “working lands” approach provides several benefits to a range of interests in the region. Among them, the conservancy said the easements:

    Keep the lands open to the public for recreation, including fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and other pursuits.
    Protect thousands of timber and tourism jobs.
    Keep the lands in private ownership and on the tax rolls, generating important revenue for local communities.
    Help protect some of Michigan’s most treasured landscapes.
    Keep valuable and environmentally sensitive forest lands habitat from fragmentation.
    Limit development, which keeps forest lands from being converted to non-forest uses.

The easements and lands were purchased from The Forestland Group, LLC, a North Carolina timberlands investment firm, which outbid the state and bought 390,000 acres at auction in 2002 from the Kamehameha Schools Trust of Hawaii.

Much of that land had been purchased by the trust from Cliffs Forest Products more than a decade earlier.

Some of the notable features protected with the easements and land purchase include:

    More than 500 miles of rivers and tributaries, with almost 200 miles of prime trout streams.
    More than 300 lakes.
    52,000 acres of wetlands.
    Thousands of acres of important buffers along federal and state park units and forests.

Taylor praised and thanked the public and private donors to the deal for their support. She also commended others, including government officials and interest groups who worked hard and cooperatively to make the ambitious project a reality.

“We always accomplish more when we work together,” Taylor said.

“The leadership of three of Michigan’s governors – John Engler, Jennifer Granholm and Rick Snyder – is unprecedented and should be applauded,” Taylor said. “We were fortunate that this was truly a bipartisan effort with many legislators in both Washington, D.C., and Lansing who supported this project along with staff at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, The Forestland Group, LLC, and within the conservancy.”

Taylor said she especially wanted to recognize the conservancy’s local partners, including Luce County and the Luce County Road Commission, McMillan Township, the Central Superior Watershed Partnership and the East Branch Sportsman’s Club.

Taylor also acknowledged local contractors and businesses that have worked to complete many of the conservancy’s improvement projects and the loggers and mills that buy its forest products.

Some of the biggest donor contributions to the project’s land and easement purchases included $10 million from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, $5 million each from the Kresge Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and $4.5 million from the Herbert H. and Grace Dow Foundation.

Among the additional donors to the land project was the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund – administered through the DNR – which contributed a total of $16.1 million over a five-year period, beginning in 2002.

“This project represents a great use of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to leverage local partnerships and assure access, recreation and forestry on Michigan lands,” Creagh said. “This deal ensures generations to come will be able to celebrate Michigan’s world-class natural resources, and U.P. residents will continue to benefit from the jobs these lands provide.”

Over the past 39 years, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund has granted more than $1 billion to state and local units of government to develop and improve recreation opportunities in Michigan.

Nearly $10 million was also contributed in federal funding through the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, which is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, Snyder cut a ribbon on a sign detailing efforts of The Nature Conservancy and its partners to reconnect 35 miles of rivers and tributaries within the 130,000-acre Two Hearted River watershed.

Twenty-three re-engineering projects were undertaken to remove obstructions, stabilize stream banks and make other improvements, reducing the estimated sediment load into Michigan’s only designated “wilderness river” by 626 tons each year.

Before the ceremony, Snyder, Taylor and Creagh joined others on a canoe and kayak trip down a stretch of the Two Hearted River.

Along the way, the group saw some of the landscape scorched as the Duck Lake Fire raced north in May 2012, blackening 21,069 acres and claiming 136 structures at a cost estimated at $4.1 million.
 

Snyder – who is a strong advocate for Michigan’s developing system of water trails – enjoyed his trip down the Two Hearted River leading to the campground.

The river is home to more than 50 fish species.

In 1919, famed author Ernest Hemingway fished for brook trout along the East Branch of the Fox River, which is located farther to the west.

Afterward, Hemingway penned “Big Two-Hearted River,” borrowing the name for his Nick Adams adventure from this winding river in northern Luce County, because its name had more poetry.
 

Snyder and the canoeists floated the river for roughly an hour, from the fish ladder north to the campground where the ceremony was held, which is located just a short distance from the Lake Superior shoreline.

The Nature Conservancy’s interpretive “Reconnecting the Two Hearted River” sign will be erected along the CCI Road, a few miles to the west, just north of Pine Stump Junction.

 

Captions - from top -

Gov. Rick Snyder, in blue life vest, takes a picture as he kayaks toward a bridge over the Two Hearted River in northern Luce County Wednesday.

Gov. Rick Snyder, right, talks with canoeists in his paddling party along the Two Hearted River Wednesday in northern Luce County.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh talks about the “Big U.P. Deal” at a commemoration event at the Mouth of the Two Hearted River State Forest Campground in Luce County. 

Gov. Rick Snyder is pulled ashore at the end of his paddle down a stretch of the Two Hearted River.

Gov. Rick Snyder, left, listens as Jeff Knoop, The Nature Conservancy’s Upper Peninsula director of land protection, talks about the Duck Lake Fire in Luce County.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s paddling party heads down the Two Hearted River in northern Luce County. Higher along the banks of the river, burnt trees from the Duck Lake Fire continue to stand.

Gov. Rick Snyder is getting ready to begin his Two Hearted River canoe trip with the help of Theresa Neal of Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Helen Taylor, The Nature Conservancy’s Michigan state director, talks at the ceremony commemorating the 10-year anniversary of announcement of the “Big U.P. Deal.”

  

Renewables, waste reduction keys to state's future

Adaptability, affordability, reliability and environmental protection focus of Snyder energy plan Gov. Rick Snyder today outlined aggressive goals to ensure an energy future for Michigan that protects against dramatic cost increases and widespread outages through a cost-based goal that, over the next ten years, moves the state to 30-40 percent use of renewable energy and waste reduction. The state faces an energy capacity issue with 10 coal power plants expected to be retired in the next ten years. As Michigan’s surging economy continues to grow, demand is expected to increase, challenging our infrastructure and natural assets unless we take new approaches, he said. Energy costs and availability are a major concern for expanding businesses that will bring new jobs to Michigan’s economy. Snyder’s plan will see the state through at least the next ten years during which Michigan must meet the shortage of electric generation while complying with new federal regulations on carbon emissions. Snyder said the energy policy centers around the four pillars of affordability, reliability, adaptability and environmental protection. A key challenge will be to dramatically reduce wasted energy, an effort that will save money for families and businesses as well as lessen the demand on the state’s power grid. We need to eliminate energy waste to meet an additional 15 percent of our energy needs by 2025. Snyder encourages a discussion with the Legislature about programs that help people replace older, wasteful items like furnaces, such as on-bill financing. Power can be made more reliable through plans to deploy “smart” meters that help utilities locate outages and restore power more quickly. The state also needs to give our regulators the ability to determine that when we may face a shortage, we have the tools to address it and ensure fair choices for customers. We’ve made progress in this area. Our goal is to have residents average less than one power outage a year, and have those outages last less than two and a half hours. We’re getting closer to hitting that mark. Michigan has been one of the 10 states most-dependent on coal. We must continue to focus on adaptability, with Michiganders determining how we will replace outdated coal plants and expand the use of newer, cleaner technologies such as natural gas and renewables. Our state can reach a goal of 30 to 40 percent renewables plus waste reduction within a decade. Michigan’s energy generation need to be part of a healthier future, with plans to reduce mercury emissions, pollution that creates acid rain and cut down on airborne particles. Our state already is a leader in terms of safety measures tied to high-volume hydraulic fracturing.  We will remain vigilant, and also continue exploring ways to promote and adopt alternative transportation fuels and autonomous vehicle technology. To read Snyder's full Energy Special Message, visit here.

Graymont responds to DNR concerns

Officials with Graymont, Inc. have submitted a revised Land Transaction Application (LTA) to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a limestone mining operation in northern Mackinac County near the town of Rexton. The March 6 proposal, which amends a January 2015 LTA, is unchanged in the total amount and location of public land under consideration.

Revisions in the March LTA address DNR concerns with the previous proposal. Based on these revisions, department officials have recommended that the March 6 Graymont application be approved by DNR Director Keith Creagh. The LTA will be before Creagh for action at the March 19 Natural Resources Commission meeting in Roscommon. More information about the proposal, including a map of tracts under consideration, can be found at www.michigan.gov/graymontproposal.

Following is a summary of items of significant concern to the department in the company’s previous proposals and how those concerns have been addressed in the most recent application:

• Royalty rate on limestone mined and minimum annual royalty payment: Graymont has increased the proposed royalty rate for limestone from 18.75 cents per ton to 30 cents per ton. The company has proposed a minimum annual royalty to begin in 2020 and has committed to creating a regional economic development fund that will provide $100,000 a year for five years starting in 2015. Department officials find the royalty rate and minimum royalty acceptable.

• Consideration of timber and mineral values: Graymont has now included timber value in the purchase price of Tracts A and E. Lands to be offered in exchange for Tracts B and C will include equal or greater forest values in addition to land value. Non-royalty minerals were valued at $10 an acre. Department officials find the language acceptable.

• Final decision authority on land use and infrastructure such as roads, trails, mining structures, etc. on all parcels: Graymont has addressed this concern by including consultation, mediation and arbitration language to recognize public and DNR input in land use decisions. Department officials find the language acceptable.

• Effects on a neighboring facility: Graymont has included language to address potential impacts to a facility adjacent to Tract C. Department officials find the language acceptable.

• Adequate wetland protection and trail easement assurances in Tract E: Graymont has included language to ensure impacts to wetlands in Tract E are minimized and trail easements for public use are provided. Department officials find the offered wetland concept and trail easements acceptable.  

• Process for land exchanges: Graymont has revised the process for land it was offering in exchange for land it seeks to acquire in this proposal. If this LTA is approved, the state will immediately begin to work with the applicant to compete the exchanges. Department officials find the process acceptable. 

• The scope and timing of economic benefits to local communities: Graymont is developing a regional economic development fund to provide grants for local units of government, schools and/or small business. Department officials find this approach acceptable and expect further detail on the local economic benefits prior to director decision.

A memo detailing the recommendation from department officials to the director can be found on the DNR website.
 

There are multiple ways people can provide comments about this proposal. The public will have an opportunity to make comments at the March Natural Resources Commission meeting. The DNR continues to maintain an email address for the public to comment. Interested parties may send comments to DNRGraymontProposalComments@michigan.gov.

Mailed comments can be sent to the Roscommon Customer Service Center, ATTN: Kerry Wieber, 8717 N. Roscommon Road, Roscommon, MI 48653.
 

Comments will be accepted until a final decision is made.

Free Fishing Weekend coming Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 15, everyone in Michigan – including residents and non-residents – can fish without a license, though all other fishing regulations still apply.

These two days make up the Winter Free Fishing Weekend – an annual effort to promote Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will bundle up and head out to fish for free on their own, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources points out there are many organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend as well. Some of these events include:

Pure Curtis Weekend at Big Manistique Lake (Mackinac County)Feb. 14, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.The town of Curtis will host an adult ice fishing tournament, a kids' ice fishing contest and outdoor events throughout the city. Tournament registration will be held at Mick’s Bait Shop at the cost of $15 per entry.

Winter Festival at Bay City Recreation Area (Bay County)Feb. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This event offers youth an opportunity to participate in an ice fishing clinic where they construct an ice fishing jig, design a lure and learn tips on ice fishing. The derby is held on Tobico Lagoon. Pre-drilled holes, free hot refreshments and warming fire, bait and loaner fishing rods will be provided. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Free Ice Fishing Derby at Seven Lakes State Park (Oakland County)Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This event will offer loaner equipment and instruction to participants. It will be held at the Fisherman’s Cove Shelter at the park. This event is assisted by members of the Izaak Walton League of America. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Northland Sportsmen’s Club Winter Ice Fishing Derby at Otsego Lake State Park
(Otsego County) - Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m. to noonThis event is for kids age zero to 16. Participants must register at the lake prior to the 8:30 a.m. start time. Bait, tackle and ice holes will be provided. There will be hot beverages on the lake. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Family Ice Fishing & Bonfire at Waterloo Recreation Area (Washtenaw County)Feb. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Make your own ice fishing jig stick at the Eddy Discovery Center and then head to Mill Lake to try ice fishing. There will be ice fishing demonstrations as well as an area cleared for ice skating. Warm up afterwards around a bonfire with marshmallows and hot chocolate. Please note a Recreation Passport is required for entry.

Please note that all events are subject to weather conditions.

There are many other events scheduled in other locations throughout the state, including in the counties of Arenac, Baraga, Chippewa, Emmet, Gogebic, Huron, Ingham, Presque Isle, St. Clair and Van Buren. Information about these events, including those listed above, can be found at michigan.gov/freefishing.

Michigan has celebrated the Winter Free Fishing Weekend annually since 1994. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, and 11,000 inland lakes, Michigan and fishing are a natural match.

Read this op-ed from our congressman

Veterans issues too important to wait

Rep. Dan Benishek

Home to more than 70,000 veterans, Northern Michigan understands how important it is to support those who have fought for our freedom.  We line up to cheer our vets in parades, and we volunteer throughout the year to help meet their basic needs. 

As the proud father of a veteran, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible support offered by our communities.

As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Veterans Health, I believe we can do even more for those who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedom.  Our veterans have done so much for our country, and I believe even more can be done to embrace that selfless spirit that our nation’s heroes have bravely displayed.

To help achieve that goal, I’m announcing the Veterans Action Initiative, a comprehensive program and legislative agenda to provide wide-ranging services to veterans and to find solutions to the challenges they face.

Our veterans have questions, and I’m devoted to making sure that they get the information and the help they need. That’s why I’ll be holding a series of Veteran’s Benefit Fairs throughout Northern Michigan in the coming months. I’ll be bringing experts and representatives of various veterans’ organizations to talk through issues, answer questions, and connect veterans with the help that they’ve earned.

I’m also proud to announce the expansion of the Michigan’s First District Veterans Advisory Council, a group of veterans from all age groups and service branches that meet with me regularly.  The council allows me to stay connected with the needs of the veterans on the ground and to develop innovative new solutions to the problems they face.

Over the next two years, I’ll visit all VA facilities and major veteran service organizations in Michigan’s First District and will maintain regular contact with all local VA officials.  In addition, I will hold a series of “Hearing from our Heroes” roundtables to give local vets an opportunity to express their concerns about what’s happening in Washington and to provide me with their solutions.

Last year, as Michigan’s only member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I was honored to play a role in the important progress that was made on getting veterans off waiting lists and into exam rooms. However, there is so much work left to be done.

The legislation we wrote to end long waits for VA care was only the first step towards my ultimate goal of allowing every veteran to choose whether to receive healthcare within the VA or from a local provider. 

As a doctor who worked both at the VA and in the private sector, I’m certain that the VA will only be improved by competition.

Bureaucratic incompetence is unacceptable, especially when it comes to veterans’ health, which is why I’ll be reintroducing my legislation to institute real accountability at the VA. 

My bill applies to the VA a commonsense principle that every worker already knows: if you don’t do your job, you are going to get fired, and I’m committed to seeing that this legislation is signed into law.

If you’re a veteran and you’d like to be involved in my Veterans Action Initiative please reach out to my office in Washington at (202) 225-4735. Our veterans deserve our steadfast support, and I’m looking forward to making real progress on the issues that matter to our returning heroes in the 114th Congress.

Terry Webb - A heartfelt tribute to a true friend

Today I write with a heavy heart because I have lost a friend and a long-time confidant.

Terry Webb was a man of integrity, a man of foresight, a man with a plan – for his life and for this village. I cannot begin to share with you the number of hours we spent discussing life in general as well as village business, hashing out solutions to problems, addressing village needs and considering the long-term impact of decisions made by him, as village president, along with the members of Newberry Village Council.

When the idea of selling the former 41 Lumber property came up, we talked at length about the consequences of taking the property off the tax rolls. We discussed the planned move of village offices to that location. We talked about our dogs, Terry and Vicky’s Newfoundlands and our German shepherd and Chihuahua, sharing their maladies and foolish adventures. We had conversations about the garbage service provided by the village and how the administration had been instructed to save money for future needs for that enterprise operation. We talked about Terry’s school years in Newberry.

We talked about his service to all of us as a member of the United States Air Force. We discussed his job in the service as a communications specialist. As a former telephone person myself, I could speak Terry’s language, making the conversations all the more meaningful. We talked about eliminating parking on Newberry Avenue during the annual July 4 parade. We talked national politics. We talked religion.

We talked about raising rabbits. We talked about gardening. When it was learned funding was not in place for all elements of the Tahquamenon Outdoor Recreation Park project, we talked about ways to pursue grant monies to get the park built to the perception drawings that were presented to village council members as a, presumably funded, done deal.

We talked about hunting. My husband and I visited the Webb camp, enjoying a day of exploring and storytelling and good food and drink. I will never forget that day. It was fantastic. We talked about the content of Terry’s newspaper column – Village Viewpoints. We talked about the Alice in Wonderland-themed wedding of his son and how Terry made the PERFECT white rabbit – clock and all!

It seems hard to believe that I just talked to Terry a little over a week ago. This time our conversation was about the good things of life, with Terry recounting the trip he made with Vicky to Kentucky to visit with Waylon and Tabby, their son and daughter-in-law. I recall his description of their apartment and its convenient location. “You could see the roof of Sam’s Club from their front door,” Terry said.

We talked about how their blind puppy was progressing and how the puppy had visited with them recently. We talked about one puppy that was coming home because the owner could no longer care for her (she returned to Newberry last week). We talked about the upcoming gardening season, praying together for warmer weather to create a better harvest. We talked about my daughter and her children. We talked about Christmas. We wished one another a happy and prosperous new year and said we would talk soon. Much to my chagrin, we never did.

And now this.

Even though I know it is part of His plan, I sometimes just want to shake my fist at God and ask, “WHY?”

I loved Terry. I love Vicky. I will miss him terribly. I will miss his wit. I will miss his level headedness. I will miss our long-winded conversations. I will miss his gentle and caring nature. I will miss Terry Webb. God rest his soul.

Today I end with the King James Version of the 23rd Psalm, as I know Terry made that walk yesterday, and I am confident that he resides in a better place now.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Amen

Changes to DNR's Master Angler program announced for 2015

Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently announced that, effective Jan. 1, 2015, multiple changes have been made to Michigan’s Master Angler program, which allows anglers to submit large fish they have caught for recognition. The program has been in place since 1973.
The Master Angler program recognizes two categories of catches: catch-and-keep and catch-and-immediate-release. Previously, the catch-and-keep category was determined by the weight of the fish caught, but that requirement has been removed and replaced with a length requirement. Now recognition in both categories will be awarded based on an established minimum length for each recognized species. Verified entries will receive the Master Angler patch. Only one patch will be awarded for both catch-and-keep and catch-and-immediate-release entries. No more than one patch per species will be awarded to each angler per year.
“Eliminating the weight requirement for part of the Master Angler program really helps to streamline both the application and the verification process – especially as anglers will no longer have to find a certified scale to have their catch weighed,” explained Lynne Thoma, the program’s coordinator. “We hope this change will make it even easier for anglers to have their large fish recognized.”
In addition to the change to the category criteria, some changes were made to the submission procedures. A witness signature is no longer required and each application must have a color photo submitted with it. Anglers can now submit their applications in hard-copy or electronic formats.
Please note, state-record fish still are recognized by weight and still require identification by a DNR fisheries biologist.
The 2015 Master Angler entry application is available online at www.michigan.gov/masterangler. 

Notice something missing?

Check out the Christmas lights on Newberry Avenue and tell me what you see is missing.

Amazing.

Walk for Diabetes - 2014 Edition

Were you one of the walkers who braved the chilly weather to walk for diabetes? If so, check out these photographs to see if your commitment to the cause was captured on camera.

Lynn Kihm, center, and her co-chairmen.

Signing up for the walk.

Our sister website, NewberryFreePress.com, sponsored the walk.

Setting up a glucose meter for walk participants.

Even dobermans participate.

Nice ride in a wagon for a great cause.

Wee ones take the easy stroll.

Walkers make it to the turnaround point.

Largest crowd of the walk converges on Snyder's.

Water or juice?

Sweatshirts were the most popular garb.

Everyone is smiling.

Mad dash across M-123.

Hoofin' it.

My kind of vantage point.

Wavin' right back at ya.

This wee one enjoyed some attention from a walk volunteer.

Free Fishing Weekend brings fun events across the state June 7-8

On Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, everyone in Michigan – including residents and non-residents – can fish without a license, but all other fishing regulations still apply. Those two days make up the Summer Free Fishing Weekend – an annual effort to promote Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will head out to fish for free on their own, there are many organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend as well. Some of these events include:

• 4th Annual Fishing Fest in DetroitThis event will be held Sunday, June 8, from noon to 4 p.m. Come to Milliken State Park for an afternoon of fun, including free food, free fishing rod rental, games and activities, instruction and much more. All gear is provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
  
• 10th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament in CheboyganThis event will be held Saturday, June 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Visit the DNR’s Cheboygan Field Office for this annual event geared toward kids age 16 and younger. Participants should be accompanied by an adult and bring their own fishing rod and life jacket. Bait is provided.
  
• Kids’ Fishing Contest at Goodrich Park in Muskegon CountyThis event will be held Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join the White Lake Area Sportfishing Association in Whitehall for this free event. Participants will be broken up into three age groups and will compete for prizes.
  
• Rice Lake Fishing Derby at Lake Linden in Houghton CountyThis event will be held Sunday, June 8, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join the Lake Linden-Hubbell Sportsmen's Association as they host a family fishing day. Prizes will be awarded for walleye and northern pike caught during the derby. Raffles and refreshments also will be provided.
  
• River Day throughout St. Clair CountyThis event will be held Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8. River Day is a weekend full of free, fun activities on the land and in the water across the rivers of St. Clair County. This event is organized by the St. Clair County Health Department.

There are many more events scheduled in various locations throughout the state in more than 25 Michigan counties. For more information about the 2014 Summer Free Fishing Weekend please visit www.michigan.gov/freefishing.
Michigan has celebrated the Summer Free Fishing Weekend annually since 1986. With more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, more than 11,000 inland lakes, and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, Michigan and fishing are a perfect match.

Still some openings for 'Dig Camp' at Michigan Historical Center July 14-18; registration deadline extended to June 9

A unique, weeklong summer-camp experience for 10- to 12-year-olds still has some openings for participants. "Dig Camp" - offered July 14-18 at the Michigan Historical Center in Lansing - will focus on archaeology and be tied to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) core concepts in fun and engaging ways. The deadline to register for this program is June 9.
Each day runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before-care and after-care also will be offered each day from 8 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 5 p.m., at no additional charge. The program is limited to 20 participants.
The cost for the weeklong Dig Camp is $275 per child. For families with an annual membership to the Michigan Historical Museum, that price is discounted to $250 per child.
"If your child likes science and history, then Dig Camp is for him or her," said Mark Harvey, archivist for the Archives of Michigan. "Dig Camp will teach the skills used in science, technology, engineering and math to study the past, making archaeology a fun way to learn these core concepts. Dig Camp is an innovative learning experience that involves hands-on activities for the students."
Some of the skills that will be explored during Dig Camp include:

• Critical reasoning through forming and testing hypotheses.
• Natural sciences through understanding archaeological site formation.
• Spatial relationships through scaled mapping and drawing.
• Technology through computer-aided data collection.
• Design through artifact analysis.
• Experimentation through trial and error of re-creating past technologies.
• Ethics and personal responsibility through teamwork and knowledge sharing.

"Archaeologists play an important role in helping us discover and learn about social relationships, the environment, biology and technology and how it has changed," said Stacy Tchorzynski, archaeologist with the State Historic Preservation Office and Department of Natural Resources. "Dig Camp taps into a child's natural curiosity and sparks a deeper interest in history and STEM."
For more information on Dig Camp, including online registration, go to www.michigan.gov/museum.

The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Its museum and archival programs help people discover, enjoy and find inspiration in their heritage. It includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, and the Archives of Michigan. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/michiganhistory.

The museum and visitor parking are on the north side of Kalamazoo Street, two blocks east of M. L. King Jr. Boulevard. in downtown Lansing. Weekend parking is free.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Experience outstanding bass fishing when catch-and-keep season opens May 24

Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers to prepare for the statewide catch-and-keep bass-fishing season which opens this Saturday.
This season opener provides the perfect opportunity for anglers to partake in world-class bass fishing. In April, Bassmaster magazine produced its list of the 100 best bass lakes of 2014 – of which six locations were in Michigan.
The six locations on Bassmaster’s list included Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan (No. 9), Lake St. Clair (No. 16), Burt Lake (No. 39), Thunder Bay, Lake Huron (No. 43), Mullet Lake (No. 46) and Lake Charlevoix (No. 82). This annual, national list is developed courtesy of information from every state’s natural resources agency, B.A.S.S. Nation presidents and conservation directors, and B.A.S.S. members.
Please note the catch-and-keep bass season for Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River does not open until Saturday, June 21.
“We’re always thrilled to see Michigan water bodies recognized as top bass-fishing destinations in the country,” said DNR Fisheries Division Chief Jim Dexter. “For these locations to be recognized by bass experts from across the country really proves the value of the state’s fisheries.”
For more information on Michigan's and other states' rankings, see Bassmaster’s complete 2014 list of the 100 best bass lakes at www.bassmaster.com/top100.
Just a reminder that Michigan's new license season began April 1, so anglers need to be sure they have purchased a new fishing license for this fishing season. The 2014 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2015. Please note, anglers are not required to purchase a base license when purchasing a fishing license.
For more information on fishing for bass in Michigan, including rules and regulations, check out the 2014 Michigan Fishing Guide available at www.michigan.gov/fishingguide. 

Tahquamenon Falls trail closed

Due to extremely high water levels on the Tahquamenon River, the popular River Trail at Tahquamenon Falls State Park has been temporarily closed until further notice.

The 5-mile-long River Trail connects the park’s Upper and Lower Falls, using a combination of dirt trail, boardwalks and bridges.

“Sections of the trail are underwater and some bridges have been washed out by the rapidly moving high water,” said park supervisor Craig Krepps. “Reopening of the trail will depend upon when the water recedes, allowing park staff to assess any safety issues and repair damage to the trail.”

Other trails within the park, including the Giant Pines, Wilderness, and Clark Lake Trails, are also currently underwater in some areas.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Tahquamenon River is currently running three times higher than the average for May, with the Upper Falls measuring a flow of approximately 40,000 gallons per second.

In addition to the trail closure, the owners of the independently operated Tahqua Trekker hiker shuttle service announced they will cease operation of the shuttle until the trail is reopened.

For status updates on the River Trail and other areas of the park affected by the high water levels, contact park headquarters at 906-492-3415, visit www.michigan.gov/tahquamenonfalls, or follow the park’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tqfalls.