5 YEARS AGO

August 16, 2007

The Benzie-Leelanau District health Department has deemed the Sugar Loaf Lodge to be “unfit for human habitation” because it does not have access to sewage disposal facilities. A letter signed by health officer William A. Crawford and addressed to Sugar Loaf Resort owner Kathleen Wickstrom acknowledged that “there is no evidence at this time that there are individuals residing at (the Sugar Loaf Lodge). Sugar Loaf Resort has been closed for skiing since March 2000.

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The mystery has finally been revealed. Yes, there was a “time capsule” located behind the cornerstone of Leelanau County courthouse in Leland. No, there didn’t appear to be anything earth-shattering among its contents. In fact, it appears that Leelanau County offi cials in 1968 spent far less time and effort considering what to put in their time capsule than county commissioners are now spending to determine what should go into a time capsule to be placed behind the cornerstone of the new Government Center now under construction in Suttons Bay Township.

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Plans to construct a wastewater treatment system for the unincorporated village of Cedar were scaled back last week by the Solon Township Board. Board members voted 3-2 to reduce the number of businesses and residences on the proposed system from 96 to 51.

10 YEARS AGO

August 15, 2002

A state-wide riparian organization with growing local membership is considering challenging the present definition of where Lake Michigan ends and private property begins. A downstate organization calling itself “Save Our Shoreline, Inc.” (SOS) may challenge a 1978 state Attorney General’s opinion that has since served as the law of the land for property owners fronting on the Great Lakes. The reason is simple: they want to control the large areas of exposed beach, that have, in some instances, turned into cesspools of stagnant water and fields of rotting weeds.

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In the market for a used car? You needn’t look any further than the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department. The department has been the recipient of a number of vehicles forfeited through a crackdown on multiple-offense drunk drivers. State law allows local municipalities to seek forfeiture of vehicles driven when such arrests are made. Since the beginning of the year, the Sheriff’s Department has processed seven vehicles. However, only one sale has “made” the county any money.

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A “tipping fee” on waste deposited in Glen’s Landfill is now the preferred option to fund future recycling efforts in the county. Gone is a plan to seek a millage for recycling, although county residents will likely pay the tipping charge through an increased fee passed on by county waste haulers.

35 YEARS AGO

August 18, 1977

A proposal for the Northport and Leland boards of education to “actively pursue” consolidation of the two school districts was made today by the Leland board. In a letter to Northport board members, Joseph Lutz, president of the Leland board, said that “from the financial and educational points of view, it just makes sense to actively pursue consolidation.” Merger of the two districts has been an on-and-off-again subject for several years, but negotiations never reached the final state.

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A “go-ahead” signal for construction of a Leelanau County senior citizens center near Maple City will be sought from the County Board of Commissioners at its Sept. 13 session.

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With all 129 condominiums in a five-building complex already sold, the Homestead at Glen Arbor is starting the development of a 30-lot delux single family dwelling area within its 225 acres of land. Called Skipper’s Wood in memory of the founder of the Homestead and nearby Leelanau School, William Beals, the 30 lots in the housing development will range in size “from approximately 1/2-acre to more than an acre.”

60 YEARS AGO

August 14, 1952

The public is invited to attend the swimming meet at the public bathing beach in Suttons Bay Sunday afternoon in which more than 200 swimmers from all parts of the county are expected to participate. The meet is planned as an Achievement Day for the more than 280 children and adults who have received swimming and life saving instruction this summer in the classes sponsored by the Leelanau County chapter of the American Red Cross.

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A joint committee of year ‘round residents was named Friday night, at the annual meeting of the Glen Lake Association to supervise for a year control of the water level in Glen Lake. The Fisher dam controls the lake level. The proper level has been determined by court order.

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Two Northport summer residents are still puzzled over the identity of a new “sea monster” they reported seeing Wednesday night in Northport Bay. The black-appearing object seemed to be about six feet long. It was swimming noisily, with a motion like a breast stroke, Mrs. Myra Hawkins reported.

113 YEARS AGO

August 10, 1899

Northport. Pearl Dame has a new piano. The school house will have a new porch built. The Michigan Telephone Co. placed a new phone last week in the office of Dr. F. Fralick. Kehl Bro’s. have recently received a large cargo of crockery and chinaware, call them and see them.

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There will be an excursion to Charlevoix via steamer Columbia, Sunday next to see the Illinois and Manitou. The boat will leave Suttons Bay at 7:30 a.m. and will return at 8:30 p.m. Round trip ticket, 75 cents.