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Demolition of the iconic Bluebird Restaurant and Tavern in Leland is underway, the first step in many for the redevelopment of the facility and nearby property. The project, planned by Skip and Lynn Telgard, includes a large patio with 100 outdoor spaces and indoor seating to accomodate an...

Demolition of the iconic Bluebird Restaurant and Tavern in Leland is underway

Demolition of the iconic Bluebird Restaurant and Tavern in Leland is underway, the first step in many for the redevelopment of the facility and nearby property. The project, planned by Skip and Lynn Telgard, includes a large patio with 100 outdoor spaces and indoor seating to accomodate another 100. It is expected to be completed by late 2024. 01/10/2024 03:45 PM

Relief efforts difficult in Gaza

Relief efforts difficult in Gaza

As the Hamas-Israeli war turns the Gaza Strip into rubble, Leelanau County residents inspired by faith to help its victims wonder where to direct their support. “We want to make sure the money gets in the right hands,” said Timothy Woycik, pastor of Leland Community United Methodist Church. 01/10/2024 03:45 PM

CROKER

Report diagnoses malaise among staff

The wait was over on Wednesday as John Scholten, regional president of the Michigan Leadership Institute, presented the results of the organizational culture survey that the board of commissioners hired him to prepare in November. Almost every seat in the large board of commissioners meeting room was occupied by members of the public and staff from many county departments. 01/10/2024 03:45 PM

Visitation tops 1.5 million, again

Visitation tops 1.5 million, again

The number of visitors at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore last year topped 1.5 million people for the ninth-straight year. Year-end visitor tallies became public late last week. 01/10/2024 03:45 PM

Parties react to survey results

Parties react to survey results

Everyone seems to agree that the workplace survey results delivered to commissioners last week painted an unflattering picture of county government. But county Clerk Michelle Crocker may have gotten the worst of it. 01/10/2024 03:45 PM

Board, staff react to survey results

Board, staff react to survey results

01/04/2024 05:26 PM

A packed class for a recent sourdough workshop is pictured around the kitchen table at Sarah Hallstedt’s Northport home. Photo courtesy of Sarah Hallstedt

Hallstedts offer sourdough workshop

A Northport cherry farm is keeping busy this winter offering an experience with different smells and tastes from what you’d normally expect: workshops on how to make fresh sourdough bread. Owner Sarah Hallstedt said she’s already hosted 10 workshops since the first sourdough workshop in November, with five others scheduled for January. 01/03/2024 07:41 PM

Thompson Surgical in Elmwood Township is in the process of expansion with a 10,000-square foot building on its Cherry Bend Road campus. Courtesy photo

2 expansions proposed for Empire/Elmwood businesses

By Brian Freiberger [email protected] Two established county businesses are eyeing expansion in 2024. Cherry Republic is in the works of expanding its Empirebased headquarters to keep up with demand and consolidate storage space. 01/03/2024 07:41 PM

A Pileated Woodpecker is spotted on a tree during the 2023 bird count that happened earlier in December. Photo courtesy of Jenny Young

69 bird species ID’d in count

The Audubon Society’s annual Lake Leelanau Christmas bird count set a new record again this year with an all time high number of bird species, 69, spotted on count day in December. “It was a really good year for Lake Leelanau and Traverse City (area),” said Kirk Waterstripe, who helped organize the count. 01/03/2024 07:41 PM

Marine Corps C-130 pilot Olivia K Raftshol has been promoted to the rank of Major at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Raftshol, 31, is a 2010 graduate of Suttons Bay High School and the daughter of Curt and Barb Raftshol and the late Lynda Raftshol. She is currently assigned to Marine...

Marine Corps C-130 pilot Olivia K Raftshol

Marine Corps C-130 pilot Olivia K Raftshol has been promoted to the rank of Major at Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Raftshol, 31, is a 2010 graduate of Suttons Bay High School and the daughter of Curt and Barb Raftshol and the late Lynda Raftshol. She is currently assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 and will leave active duty status in June, remaining with 234 as a reservist. She will concurrently begin her new civilian career as a pilot with American Airlines. 01/03/2024 07:41 PM

Inland Seas Education Association offers a number of options for schools to introduce their students to hands-on learning on and around the Great Lakes, such as the program pictured here on board a schooner. The schooners Inland Seas and Utopia are available for charter sails for private a...

ISEA raises $80K for youth programs

Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) announced Monday that they smashed their year-end donation goal of $80,000 to support the growing demands of their various educational programs for youth. Juliana Lisuk, ISEA associate director, said the organization started their educational alliance year-end donations in November, and just in time for the new year, was able to meet their collection goal. 01/03/2024 07:41 PM

The community of Omena is mourning the passing of former mayor Sweet Tart McKee. Courtesy of Kanda McKee

First feline Omena mayor passes

Sweet Tart McKee, a Norwegian Forest cat and the former Mayor of Omena from 2018 – 2021, died on Christmas Eve. She was the fifth Mayor of Omena, the first feline after four dogs, and the first to become an international sensation. Following her election, she received emails and letters from around the world, and appeared on websites in many countries, with the news of her election translated into quite a few languages. She was even talked about on the Anderson Cooper 360 show, along with her Vice Mayor, Punkin Anderson-Harder. She was 14 ½ years old. 01/03/2024 07:41 PM

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