Several state parks in southern Michigan will host volunteer stewardship workdays in January. Volunteers are needed to help with removing invasive plants that threaten high-quality ecosystems in the parks.

Please note that registration is required for all volunteer workdays.

Workdays will take place:

• • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 8, at Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County).
  • 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 8, at Hoffmaster State Park (Muskegon County).
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at Waterloo Recreation Area (Jackson County).
  • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 15, at Belle Isle Park (Wayne County).
  • 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 29, at Warren Dunes State Park (Berrien County).
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, and Sunday, Jan. 30, at Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County).
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, at Island Lake Recreation Area (Livingston County).
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Muskegon State Park (Muskegon County).
  • 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 23, at Saugatuck Dunes State Park (Allegan County).
  • 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 29, at Highland Recreation Area (Oakland County).
  • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, at Pinckney Recreation Area (Washtenaw County).

More details about each workday and how to register can be found on the DNR volunteer events calendar.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a virtual public meeting 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, to gather public feedback on a new draft phase 2 general management plan for Algonac State Park in St. Clair County.

General management plans are used to define a long-range planning and management strategy that protects a state park’s resources while addressing recreation and education needs and opportunities.

The virtual meeting will include a review of the draft plan, proposed improvements and planning process, followed by an opportunity for people to share feedback and questions with DNR staff. Advance registration is required.

“Public input is a critical part of the planning process,” said Debbie Jensen, park management plan administrator for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. “We hope visitors, local community members and everyone interested in the future of this park can take part in the public input phase.”

Project website, post-meeting survey

Additional opportunities to provide feedback via a public input survey will be available immediately following the meeting. The virtual meeting will be recorded and posted online approximately one week after the event. Read more

Grand Island, NE – Savvy gun owners lock handguns and other everyday essentials when not in use. The SnapSafe® Keypad Vault is a compact security container perfectly suited for protecting these valuables. The rugged steel vault opens easily using either an integrated keypad or a metal key. And the Keypad Vault’s compact size allows mounting almost anywhere.

A digital lock uses a user-programmable four-to-six-digit access code set to one of over 12 million possible combinations. Keypad Vaults open with a push-button keypad or metal key. The ability to assign multiple vaults and household safes with the same code means there’s only one number to remember; this feature ensures quick access in a stressful situation! Read more

KENNESAW, Ga.– The Yamaha Rightwaters plastics recycling program returned more than 10,000 pounds of Polyethylene and Polypropylene sheet plastics back to base materials during 2021, proving a pilot concept the sustainability initiative hopes to expand in 2022. Yamaha Rightwaters announced the program in August and continues to work with Nexus® of Atlanta, Georgia and Tommy Nobis Enterprises® of Marietta, Georgia, to develop a larger national program intended to reduce plastic waste in America’s waterways.

“Polyethylene and Polypropylene constitute a substantial portion of the plastic in our oceans harming fish populations. This pilot program proves these plastics can be broken down in a cost-effective manner that Yamaha Rightwaters can potentially replicate on a national level,” said Martin Peters, the Government Relations Division Manager for the Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “It also demonstrates that Yamaha builder and dealer partners are willing to become active participants in the program, further underscoring a marine industry commitment to conservation and sustainability.”

Yamaha developed a reverse logistics program to return the protective covers from select boat builders, retail dealers and its three boat production facilities. The sheet plastic used in the pilot program comes from protective boat covers at Contender Boats, Regulator Marine, Xpress Boats, Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing (YJBM), Skeeter and G3 Boats. Read more

 GRINNELL, Iowa 

During that week in November, Brownells pledged to give a percentage of all sales from www.Brownells.com to SOWW.

Strong support from Brownells customers made it possible to send a hefty check to the 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to helping Purple Heart recipients of the Special Operations community through therapeutic outdoor experiences and other services.

Many of SOWW’s typical fundraising activities such as benefit dinners and live auctions have been curtailed during the pandemic, making outside donations even more critical to its mission.

“We are very grateful for our customers who helped us fund this awesome organization,” said Brownells Chariman Pete Brownell. “Thank you all for helping fund SOWW and for supporting the warfighters who benefit from SOWW.”

“We are forever thankful for the continued support that Brownells has offered Special Operations Wounded Warriors,” said SOWW President Joel Pellicci. “They have been a partner in charity since our inception and they continue to be a major source of funds and support of our efforts to help special operations veterans throughout the year.  Brownells’ support over the past two years has been our charity’s lifeblood due to the loss of annual fundraising events because of Covid 19 impacts.”

The SOWW Board of Directors accept no salaries and SOWW maximizes its ability to directly support veterans and their families in every way it can.

To help support SOWW, visit www.sowwcharity.com. Read more

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COLUMBIA, MO – Wednesday December 15, 2021 marked the official ribbon cutting ceremony for Boy Scouts of America’s new Council office, programs, and activity center – a generous donation from MidwayUSA co-founders Larry and Brenda Potterfield.

Last year, during a Board Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America, Great Rivers Council, the Potterfields announced the donation of the Lincoln Building on their MidwayUSA campus to the scouting organization. MidwayUSA’s Customer Support operations, former occupants of the 13,000 square foot building, recently moved to the Company’s new distribution center.

“This building has served us well but is no longer a part of our future. We are fortunate and pleased to be able to donate it to one of our favorite organizations,” said Larry Potterfield, MidwayUSA Founder and Executive Chair of Board of Directors. Read more

The application period for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Deer Habitat Improvement Program grant is now open.

This grant program is available in partnership with the Alpena-Montmorency Conservation District. It is designed to fund deer habitat improvement projects on private land in counties where bovine tuberculosis is present. The awarded funds will be used to improve deer habitat and increase opportunities for hunters to successfully harvest deer.

Landowners with property in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties are eligible to apply for the grant. Applications for habitat improvement in other counties will not be considered. Grants will be awarded in amounts from $500 to $2,500. A total of $50,000 will be available for grants and program delivery in 2022. Read more