5 YEARS AGO

May 17, 2007

The mouth of Leland Harbor needs to be dredged, and the community is being asked to lend financial support. The Leland Harbor Commission unanimously recommended to the Township Board that the township pay half of the estimated $50,000 dredging cost. The township harbor’s portion of the match would be $25,000, with the remaining $25,000 raised through a community fundraising effort organized by Michael Grosvenor and Megan Munoz.

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Glen Lake students are enjoying roasted asparagus for lunch this week. The school, in collaboration with the Michigan Land Use Institute, purchased 90 pounds of asparagus from Harry Norconk, who farms just south of the Leelanau/Benzie County line.

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Glen Lake distance runner Marissa Treece has been named female athlete of the year in Michigan by the Detroit Athletic Club. Treece earned the award not just because of her athletics. She has a 3.97 grade point average and participates in Project Heroes and Pals as well as the county 4-H program raising steers, pigs and sheep.

10 YEARS AGO

May 16, 2002

Cleveland and Centerville township governments are being sucked into a dispute over operation of a sewer system serving Sugar Loaf Resort and more than 90 nearby residences in both townships. Sugar Loaf Service Company, which owns the sewer system, last week informed the owner of Sugar Loaf Resort that the company “will no longer provide any sewer service to anybody.”

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A newly-enacted law could allow the county to bond for a new law enforcement center on its own — rather than employing its recently formed building authority. Commissioners voted to authorize administrator David Gill to prepare a resolution for consideration at the monthly board meeting to purchase $7 million in bonds for construction of a new law enforcement facility.

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The “rockets red glare” is coming to the old coal dock in Elmwood Township. The Township Board unanimously authorized supervisor Noel Flohe to sign permits for two fireworks display to be launched from the dock as part of the National Cherry Festival.

35 YEARS AGO

May 19, 1977

While cherry orchards in Leelanau County were suffering some damage from frost, commercial strawberry “patches” were shielded from damage some nights by being coated with ice deliberately by sprinkler systems. The outlook for berry production remained good this week, and another product, asparagus, also was reported to be in good shape despite spells of freezing weather.

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Leelanau County may soon have six more subdivisions to add to a list of more than 250 already existing. The County Road Commission gave approval Tuesday to a plat for Chantre Highlands Subdivision near Peterson Park in Leelanau Township, and received drawings of five others now in various stages of preliminary development.

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In developing alternatives to oil and natural gas as sources of power, the federal government might well draw on the expertise of private citizens such as John Rutherford of Lake Leelanau. Rutherford has developed a solar hot water heater efficient enough to super-heat water; he has built a number of windmill electricity generators, and he also runs a big gasoline motor on methane distilled from barnyard manure.

60 YEARS AGO

May 15, 1952

By order of the Air Defense Command, this action, known as “Operation Skywatch,” to be undertaken by the Ground Observer Corps, will begin simultaneously in 27 states. Its stated purpose is to “supplement the nation’s radar network in providing continuous surveillance for air defense.” Observers are expected to report by telephone to the filter center in Grand Rapids the flight of specified types of aircraft and hostile actions associated with aircraft.

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Cherry trees in the northern part of the county are expected to be near the peak of bloom for the fifth annual Leelanau Blossom Tour Sunday, according to Stanley Ball, county agricultural agent.

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Northport has volunteered to take the lead this year in staging a county-wide observance of Memorial Day. A committee already is hard at work on the program.

115 YEARS AGO

May 13, 1897

Miss Ina Perrin closed a very successful term of school in this village on Saturday last. Miss Perrin will spend the summer at Traverse City with her mother.

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Andrew Fjarlig and Miss Josephine Hansen, of Empire, were married by Justice Nelson at the Hotel Ruff, in this village yesterday afternoon. The Enterprise join their friends in wishing them a pleasant voyage through life.

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Mr. Lemme’s barn near Provemont was destroyed by fire last Tuesday night.

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Rudolph Ruff will soon open up his saloon again and we bespeake for him a good trade.