Piping determined to be too fragile for continued use

While the source of water supplying two residences and an unregulated trailside spigot has been confirmed in Ontonagon County’s Greenland Township, the search for a safe, viable and affordable water supply continues.

A Michigan Department of Natural Resources crew recently uncovered an old wellhead off the Bill Nichols Rail-Trail that has been determined to feed the homes and the trailside stop where the water has been used for drinking water and other watering needs for decades.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has granted the DNR an extension into September to determine whether potential alternatives exist that might keep the water available to the public. Read more

Warden K9 Gordon and Game Warden Preston Pomerleau located a missing 15-year-old boy who had gotten lost camping after he had gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom while camping.

Nathan Beckman, age 15, of Scarsdale, NY, was on a backpacking trip on the Grafton Loop Trail in western Maine. The Grafton Loop Trail is a remote 38-mile loop trail that connects nine mountain peaks. Beckman was on a trip with Overland Summers, a Williamstown, Mass. Organization that specializes in youth outdoor adventure trips.

Beckman had gotten out of his tent at the Bull Brook Campsite to go to the restroom at approximately 3:15 yesterday morning. Trip Leaders had heard Beckman get out of his tent, then heard distant yelling. Trip leaders confirmed he had not returned to his tent and began searching for him, but were unable to locate him or get him to come back. When they could no longer hear him, they called 911 a little after 5:00 a.m. yesterday.

Game Wardens responded to the scene and began to conduct a search in the rugged terrain on the southern slopes of Old Speck Mountain and Slide Mountain. 15 game wardens responded, along with over 40 personnel from search and rescue teams from across the state. Responding organizations included Newry Fire Department, Mahoosuc Mountain Rescue Team, Franklin SAR, Wilderness Rescue Team, Maine SAR Dogs, Maine Mounted SAR, Southern Maine Law Dogs, Maine Forest Service, and Bethel Fire Department. Read more

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, sets a new standard for Proven Off-Road 2024 Side-by-Side (SxS) and ATV models with the unveiling of all-new models and technological enhancements. The 2024 collection showcases Yamaha’s commitment to providing optimal capability, comfort, and confidence for every off-road enthusiast, whether conquering the toughest terrain or embarking on epic adventures.

Manufactured with pride at Yamaha’s state-of-the-art facility in Newnan, Georgia, every Yamaha SxS and full-size ATV is assembled in the USA and distributed worldwide. The 2024 lineup boasts a wide range of models designed to cater to various preferences and needs: Read more

The IHEA-USA announced today that it is raffling off a QuietKat Apex Pro electric bike, which was generously donated to them by QuietKat.

The Apex Pro is one of the most capable hunting and hauling e-bikes built by QuietKat and offers all the latest features like a 1000w motor and an industry leading 100 lbs hauling capacity. With hydraulic disc brakes, 4.5” tires, and a wide assortment of accessories for your hunt, the Apex Pro will efficiently and quickly haul the game back to camp or the truck with minimal effort.

“QuietKat’s generous donation will allow us to further IHEA-USA projects that ensure new hunters get safely into the field and offer them additional resources to learn to hunt outside the Hunter Education classroom,” states Alex Baer, Executive Director of the IHEA-USA. “The opportunity to raffle this and offer it to our audience and the general public is greatly appreciated. We sincerely thank QuietKat for this generous donation.”

Raffle tickets are now available through the IHEA-USA website for only $20.00 each. Only 250 tickets will be sold. The raffle will net the IHEA-USA $5,000 for its general fund to support its research and develop resources supporting Hunter Education and R3 Initiatives. Read more

A visit to Fort Wilkins is a treat in itself, but the weekend of July 28-30 offers even more – an encampment with the Civil War living-history group Battery D, 1st Michigan Light Artillery, featuring 25-plus costumed interpreters, a depiction of army barracks life and soldiers’ pastimes, full-scale cannon, and authentically reproduced clothing, tools and weapons.

It’s an annual tradition that was paused during the COVID pandemic. Battery D’s return coincides with Fort Wilkins Historic State Park’s 100th anniversary.

“In 1923, Fort Wilkins became a state park, and today the site includes camping, picnicking, fishing and other recreation opportunities as well as this wonderfully preserved historic site,” said Barry James, Upper Peninsula historian for the Michigan History Center.

“You’ll hear the echo of cannon fire rolling down the length of Lake Fanny Hooe, just as soldiers heard it more than 175 years ago. It is an experience not to be missed!”

• The encampment is open to park visitors 8 a.m. to dusk Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 30.
• Demonstrations, including Civil War medical and undertaking procedures, drills and skits are featured throughout the weekend.
• For the daily schedule of activities, call 906-289-4215. Read more