Feb. 3, 2023

Five minutes after Delta (Michigan) dispatch put out a call Monday reporting a structure fire along U.S. Highway 2 in Rapid River, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Stephen Butzin arrived at the scene.

Stephen Butzin

Michigan State Police Trooper Zane Weaver got there at the same time.

The Masonville Township Fire Department and EMS personnel weren’t far behind, with the residents of the home – an unidentified husband and wife – reportedly still inside their burning house.

“I was informed that the wife left the house, when she returned, she opened the door and smoke began to pour out of the residence, she then called 911,” Butzin said.

Butzin and Weaver ran up to the front door and found thick, brown smoke coming out of the residence, and they observed a woman standing outside.

“As I walked in the house, you could not see anything at ‘standing height,’” Butzin said. “I had to crouch to be able to see through the house as it was full of smoke.”

Trooper Weaver located the husband on the couch and yelled for him to exit the residence, but he would not comply with the order. Read more

The department already has received several thousand comments via the interactive map, email and traditional mail.

Contact: DNR-Public-Info@Michigan.gov

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will continue to accept public comment through Wednesday, Feb. 8, on the National Guard’s proposed expansion of its Camp Grayling training facility to include 162,000 acres of DNR-managed forest land.

The comment period will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8. The DNR has been receiving public comments since June 2022, and the DNR and the military have sponsored and appeared at many public meetings to collect feedback throughout the summer and fall regarding the proposed expansion. Several thousand comments have already been shared with the DNR, and staff has been evaluating public input as it is received. A summary of the comments will be posted on the DNR’s Camp Grayling proposal information page.

The DNR will review the feedback received and continue discussions with the military about use of state-managed forest land for military training. Read more

Last Weeks to Enter Project ChildSafe’s 2023 Safety Sweepstakes with 8 Great Prizes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Project ChildSafe® 2023 Safety Sweepstakes is heading into its final weeks of providing donors with a chance to win one of eight great prizes contributed by industry’s top companies. The top prize—a Vault Pro Silver Eagle Gun Safe—is valued at $4,500.00.

The sweepstakes helps raise funds to support Project ChildSafe, a program of NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association. Project ChildSafe is a gun safety program that helps save lives and keeps families and communities safer through the distribution of genuine firearm safety messaging and free gun locks.

The sweepstakes is open to everyone! Enter today for a chance to win one of the following eight prizes:

• • Vault Pro Silver Eagle Gun Safe
  • Beretta Silver Pigeon 12 Gauge
  • Leica Geovid R 10×42 Rangefinder Binoculars
  • $1,000 OpticsPlanet Gift Card, Jacket & Hat
  • Mossberg JM Pro Series 930 12 Gauge
  • Kalispel Case Line Double Rifle Case
  • GTM/CZY-02 Vintage Messenger Bag
  • Yeti Tumbler with Project ChildSafe logo

Read more

HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College hosted a Law Enforcement Outreach Conference on Jan. 27 at the college’s Dow Hotel and Conference Center. Law enforcement officers from across the country received training to become certified in teaching the Hillsdale College Law Enforcement Constitution Course. The course, launched in June 2022, provides law enforcement officers with deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. Developed by Hillsdale College faculty and staff, it includes a four-hour block of instruction that can be included in police academy training schedules and in-service training days.

“Hillsdale College has a reputation for service and patriotism, as well as rigorous constitutional scholarship,” said Patrick Whalen, assistant to the president of Hillsdale College. “As a result, we had various law enforcement agencies asking for help instructing officers and deputies about the Constitution they take an oath to support and defend. This course is an outreach to those on the front lines of protecting our constitutionally guaranteed rights.” Read more

Chattanooga, Tenn. (February 2023) – Natchez Shooting & Outdoors, announces its True North Sweepstakes to celebrate its expanding offerings for customers’ outdoor adventures.

Enter for your chance to win a $1600 prize package stocked with Natchez branded gear, hunting, shooting and outdoor products. ENTER TODAY! https://woobox.com/xnbt6c

About Natchez Shooting & Outdoors:

At Natchez Shooting & Outdoors, we are passionate about getting our customers outdoors. For over forty years, our goal has been to empower the pursuit of your outdoor passions and safety by providing you with the best equipment for your outdoor adventures. Through our great assortment of hunting, shooting, fishing, hiking, camping, and outdoor sports supplies offered at competitive prices, you’ll find what you need to stay the course, explore new terrain, and ultimately love what you do.

Our easy, friendly shopping experience, backed by our team of knowledgeable shooting and outdoor enthusiasts, will help get you outside to explore your next horizon. Simply put, you’ll find our outdoor selection a breath of fresh air. https://www.NatchezSS.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Tuesday announced it will offer $41 million through the 2023 Wood Innovations Grant and 2023 Community Wood Grant programs to spark innovation and create new markets for wood products and renewable wood energy.?

Made possible in part by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, these grants expand wood products use and strengthen emerging wood energy markets, supporting sustainable forest management – particularly in areas of high wildfire risk.

“With the support of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, USDA is carrying out the Biden-Harris Administration’s mission to support rural, forest-dependent communities while fighting climate change and protecting our natural resources,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“These grant programs provide opportunities for communities and businesses to develop innovative uses and markets for wood, a renewable and economical resource,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “Previous Wood Innovations Grants are making a difference across the country, and we are pleased to continue supporting wood use ingenuity that helps our communities and forests.” Read more

Contact: Tom Seablom 906-250-0759 or Ron Yesney 906-228-6561

Process under way to cap-off water, curtail access
A roadside access point is shown where water has been drawn from an unregulated source.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has been ordered to shut down an unregulated water source at a roadside access point some locals have used for drinking water and other household needs for decades.

An order was issued to the DNR in December by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

“The DNR needs to cease and desist serving water to the public by use of the trailside flowing water outlet by Feb. 6, 2023, and to provide written notice within 30 days to any residential structures served by the non-potable water supply that water service will be discontinued on or before June 30, 2023,” the order states. Read more

Next month, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will debut its free snowmobiling weekend, which will allow snowmobilers to operate their machines over a two-day period without the requirement of a snowmobile registration or trail permit.

The dates for the free snowmobiling weekend are Feb. 11-12. Read more