5 YEARS AGO
February 27, 2003

Heading onto Lake Michigan even in a large vessel has proven to be problematic this season. On Monday, the tug Lake Michigan and the barge it was pushing became stuck in the ice west of the Leelanau Peninsula some four miles from the nearest open water.

* * *

Public utilities and private septic systems have been feeling the chill of the deep freeze with great frequency. Public Works employees in Northport have been busy responding to calls from homeowners with frozen water lines.

* * *

Suttons Bay is courting Northport for a possible school district merger as its superintendent warns that several proposed consolidations in Michigan could result in 22 percent less state aid for his district. With desperate fiscal times looming, two more county schools are discussing consolidation — Glen Lake and Leland.

10 YEARS AGO
February 26, 1998

The Glen Lake girls’ ski team captured the Class B-C-D state title at Boyne Mountain Monday.

* * *

The Shirley Agosa Trust and the Leelanau Conservancy signed an agreement Friday morning for a perpetual conservation easement for 82 acres of land flanking both sides of North Lake Leelanau Dr. (Co. Rd. 641) in East Leland. The Conservancy announced plans for the purchase, located about three miles north of Lake Leelanau village in the Warden’s point area, in early November.

* * *

The Suttons Bay Board of Education has formally supported a proposed regional 5-year, 1½-mill ballot proposal to raise funds for operations.

30 YEARS AGO
March 2, 1978

Glen Lake school district voters will be asked in a special election April 10 to approve for next year an extra operational millage 3.52 mills smaller than the one now expiring.

* * *

Confetti flew and cheerleaders leaped when the gun sounded to give Suttons Bay a 62-59 win over Northport Monday in the opening round of the District basketball tournament at Traverse City.

* * *

Total snowfall in Leelanau County this winter was 158 inches at the end of February, the third highest sum for this stage of a winter season since the County Road Commission began measuring snowfall at its Suttons Bay garage in 1955-56.

55 YEARS AGO
February 26, 1953

Superintendents and school board members representing every township voted unanimously Thursday night at Leland to “sink or swim together” in their fight to maintain a six-mill share of the 15 mills available for county government, townships, and schools.

* * *

The “college course at home” for farmers sponsored by the Agriculture Extension Service got off to an excellent start Monday with 130 in attendance. Tuesday’s program drew another 100, and a large crowd was expected again Wednesday afternoon.

* * *

Members of the Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce, meeting Monday night, learned from John Sattler, manager, that the Leelanau Telephone Company will begin construction this spring of a dial system exchange office on the lot across from the Hose House.

115 YEARS AGO
March 2, 1893

The steam barge Alice M. Gill will be made into a passenger boat this spring.

* * *

Capt. Oleson crossed over from North Manitou Island last Monday on the ice, and four hours later the lake was clear of ice.

* * *

A few days of soft weather has settled the snow considerable.