Get your absentee ballot now

 

Absentee ballots now available to
vote in March 8 presidential primary

Absentee ballots are now available for the March 8 presidential primary in Michigan, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced. 

Voting absentee is only allowed in certain circumstances for registered voters in the state, including if you are:

• age 60 years old or older
• unable to vote without assistance at the polls
• expecting to be out of town on election day
• in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
• unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons, or
• appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.

When voters request an absentee ballot or arrive at the polls and fill out their application to vote, they must indicate whether they wish to vote in the Democratic or Republican party primary. They will then receive a ballot listing candidates for that party. Some communities will have additional special local election items on the ballot. Voters who wish only to vote in the special election may request a ballot that does not include presidential candidates.

Download an absentee ballot application

Johnson continues to support secure absentee voting in Michigan, which if passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor would allow registered voters to cast absentee ballots up to 45 days before an election. Voters wanting to vote absentee would have to pick up the ballot at a local clerk’s office and show ID.

For more election resources, please visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at mi.gov/vote.

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.

DNR conservation officer academy starts Jan. 3

Twenty-four potential new conservation officers will report Sunday, Jan. 3, in Lansing to attend the Department of Natural Resources' conservation officer training academy. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards-sanctioned academy will be led by the DNR's Law Enforcement Division employment and training section.

The 24 recruits will complete a 22-week training academy that includes 14 weeks of basic police training and eight weeks of more specialized conservation officer training. Following graduation, the probationary conservation officers will then complete 18 weeks of field training. During the first two years after field training completion, the conservation officers will complete four additional weeks of specialized training, including search and rescue training and marine, waterfowl, snowmobile and trapping enforcement training.

There are 22 men and two women in Recruit School No. 7. Seven of the new recruits are military veterans and three are previous law enforcement officers. Upon academy graduation, the recruits will range in age from 21 to 45.

DNR conservation officers serve a distinct role in Michigan's law enforcement community. They are certified police officers with the authority to enforce all of Michigan's criminal laws. As conservation officers, they also have unique training in a wide variety of other areas related to the protection of Michigan's citizens and natural resources.

Michigan currently has 213 conservation officers, which doesn’t account for upcoming attrition through retirements.

“Our goal is to establish and maintain appropriate conservation officer coverage for every Michigan county, and this recruit school furthers that goal,” said Gary Hagler, chief of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division. “In addition to protecting the state’s natural resources and assisting in rural and urban community policing, conservation officers often serve as first responders.”

Conservation officers routinely conduct lifesaving operations such as ice rescue and search and rescue.

In 2015, conservation officers performed a number of livesaving operations, including a November rescue of a lost hunter in Mackinac County and a lost hunter and deer tracker in Gladwin County, an October rescue of a lost and injured Gladwin County woman, a September lifesaving operation during a Pentwater fire, an August apprehension of an escaped Iosco County prisoner, and a March ice rescue on the Detroit River, among many more.

First Lieutenant Steven Burton, supervisor of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division employment and training section, noted that the DNR is actively recruiting for future recruit schools.

"Men and women interested in a career as a conservation officer should start the process now by taking the Michigan Civil Service exam and completing an online application for a future academy," Burton said.

Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect citizens by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more about Michigan conservation officers at www.michigan.gov/conservationofficers.

TAS admin personnel should investigate this opportunity

Want to learn the finer points of applying for DNR recreation grants? Join DNR grants management staff in January for a workshop that will help make your applications more competitive.  

The statewide workshops, beginning Jan. 12, will cover scoring criteria and how to successfully complete an application.

Frequent comments and questions staff are asked will be worked into the program, as well as tips for getting the greatest number of points possible on your application. Staff will also walk users through the MiRecGrants program to make applying easier for applicants.

Check out the workshop in your area; registration is not necessary. If you have any questions, contact  your grant coordinator, or call 517-284-7268.

Village scores $45K Recreation Passport grant

Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that 33 communities across the state will share $1,348,700 in Recreation Passport grants. Funding for this program is derived from sales of the Recreation Passport, the $11 annual pass that grants residents vehicle entry at state parks and recreation areas throughout Michigan.

This year, Recreation Passport grant applicants sought funding for a broad range of public outdoor recreation projects, including playground development and renovations, dog park improvements, ice-skating rink development, trail and walkway development, park and picnic area improvements and improved access for those with disabilities.

The village of Newberry received grant funding in the amount of $45,000 to make improvements at Atlas Park. According to the DNR, the village project includes development of playground equipment, benches, picnic tables, grills and lighting.

The full list of grant recipients, grant amounts and project descriptions is available on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassportgrants.

Successful applicants clearly demonstrated projects designed to increase public access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities. The selected projects were chosen from a field of 45 grant applications seeking nearly $1.8 million in funding.

“These Recreation Passport grants go a long way in helping local units of government bring quality recreation opportunities to their citizens,” said Steve DeBrabander, DNR grants manager. “We are proud to work with these agencies so that, together, we can create world-class outdoor recreation resources statewide. The recreation industry plays an important role in moving the state’s economy forward by providing vital jobs and tourism in both urban and rural settings.”

Application materials for future Recreation Passport grants will be available by Jan. 1 at www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants. Interested individuals also may call DNR Grants Management at 517-284-7268 or write to:

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Grants Management
P.O. Box 30425
Lansing, MI 48909-7925

Learn more about how the Recreation Passport gains you access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.

CAC meets Dec. 3 in Newberry

At the Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens’ Advisory Council meeting in Newberry Thursday, Dec. 3, participants are scheduled to hear a preliminary recap on the archery and firearm deer hunting seasons in the eastern U.P.

The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. EST at the Pentland Township Hall, located at 15474 M-28, south of Newberry.

Additional agenda items include information on the DNR’s “Keep the U.P. CWD Free!” education campaign, the Good Neighbor Authority recently developed between the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service and an update on two proposals for net pen aquaculture in the Great Lakes.

An update will also be provided on Senate Bill 245 being considered in the state Legislature, which stiffens the penalties for illegal killing or possessing of certain game, including bear, moose and elk.

Trapping opportunities in Michigan will also be discussed, along with a proposed council meeting schedule for 2016.

The public can participate in the session by offering comments to the discussion during two specified periods at the meeting (for instructions on comment procedures, see www.michigan.gov/upcac).

The DNR’s eastern and western Upper Peninsula citizens’ advisory councils are designed to provide local input to advise the DNR on regional programs and policies, identify areas in which the department can be more effective and responsive and offer insight and guidance from members’ own experiences and constituencies.

Council members represent a wide variety of natural resource and recreation interests. Agenda items are set by the council members and council recommendations are forwarded to the DNR for consideration.

Anyone interested in being considered as a future council member should fill out the application form found on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/upcac. For more information, contact the DNR Upper Peninsula regional coordinator’s office at 906-226-1331.

Photograph information courtesy of the DNR: Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council member Gary Gorniak of Moran, left, watches as Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife division staff age a buck Gorniak brought in to the Mackinac Straits deer check station at Bridge View Park in St. Ignace. Gorniak shot the buck Nov. 17 during the firearm deer hunting season in Mackinac County.

Fishing Tip: Got a deer? Head out for some steelhead fishing

Fishing for steelhead is very hot right now so if you’ve already gotten your doe or buck this season, consider hitting the rivers again for the fall run of chrome.

In the last 10 years, steelhead fishing with bobber and eggs has really taken off – however, “older” fishing methods are still very effective during the early season.

Many anglers enjoy actively casting spinners and plugs. The secret to this type of fishing is finding a good hole or run that is deep enough to hold fish.

Cast your offering across the river and retrieve it as slow as possible while still making sure the lure is “swimming” close to the bottom. As you retrieve, the river’s current will swing your plug or spinner down stream in an arch. Eventually the last part of your retrieve will be almost completely up stream. Many bites will come at the bottom of the arch or during the upstream retrieve. Start your casts at the top of the hole or run and after two to three casts take a step down stream. Cast two to three more times before taking another step down stream. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire length of the hole or run. After your last casts, you can either head back to the top and start over or explore the river for another spot.

This manner of fishing can be a lot of fun because the strike of a steelhead on a retrieved lure is second to none.