To accommodate a water main project in Muskegon State Park, Scenic Drive south of the Memorial Drive intersection will be closed November through March.

The work is part of Muskegon County’s $13.5 million Channel Crossing Project that will provide a second water source to customers in the northern part of Muskegon County in the case of major break in the current water source. Ultimately, the project will transport water from the Muskegon water filtration plant and allow the state park to hook into the municipal water system, too.

The roadway will be closed for crews to safely assemble the water main prior to installation under the Muskegon Channel and state park. Construction is anticipated to take place Nov. 1, 2021, through April 1, 2022. Read more

RIVERTON, Wyo. (Oct. 22, 2021) — To help celebrate 30 years of providing customers with the world’s finest array of meat and fish seasonings, jerky, sausage, and snackin’ stick kits; dressings & dips; and much more, Hi Mountain Seasonings is proud to announce that its new digital cookbook, featuring 30 tantalizing recipes, is now available to be downloaded for free on the company’s website, www.himtnjerky.com or by Clicking Here. The cookbook is pre-formatted to be printed on 8.5×11 paper, for those who would like a hard copy. Read more

LONSDALE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA; REDARC, the leading Overland authority in power management launches a suite of solar products in North America.

No more melted ice, no more warm drinks, no more worrying about state of charge, no more compromises. Leave the crowds behind and get off-grid with REDARC’s 12-volt solar range. Harness the unlimited power of the sun with REDARC’s new flexible solar blankets, portable folding panels and permanent fixed panels. Available in 50 to 200 watt capacities and supported by a complete range of accessories that make installation a breeze.

With the launch of solar, REDARC becomes the premier one stop shop for off-grid in-vehicle power. REDARC’s solar range is diverse, light, tough, and efficient. Combining this rugged performance with free green power gives overlanders, vanlifers, and any vehicle-based adventurer the confidence to explore any landscape or campground.

REDARC’s solar panels and accessories are the perfect complement to an existing REDARC 12v dual battery system, or a great place to begin incorporating battery charging capabilities. For the ultimate off-grid power set up, pair REDARC’s new solar panels with their already popular range of BCDC Dual In-Vehicle DC-DC Chargers or Manager30 Battery Management System. Both systems feature next-generation battery charging technology and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar regulators, so a separate regulator is not required. These enable charging from both the solar panels and the alternator simultaneously. And, with built-in Green Power Priority, it will select solar charging first, meaning less load on the alternator. Read more

GW: This from Jim Shepherd

At ten this morning (Eastern) the United States Supreme Court will go into session for what looks to be an extremely impactful term. There are some (potentially) landmark cases that could lead to rulings with the potential to change how laws have been interpreted.

For the first time in a year, the high court will actually return to the courtroom. Last year, all cases were heard telephonically. That was a notable change, as was the taciturn Associate Justice Clarence Thomas’ sudden participation in the telephonic questioning. Known as the “non-speaking Justice” Thomas’ questioning via telephone made it obvious he was not so taciturn when the Justices convened outside the courtroom.

The court will be back in physical session, but the courtroom won’t be packed with spectators, law students or media. Attendance will be limited to the Justices, essential court personnel, lawyers in the argued cases and the two dozen or so reporters with Supreme Court press credentials.

Live audio feeds will continue, but no video.

The docket includes virtually any red-flag issue imaginable: abortion, gun rights, political redistricting, federal policymaking, public/private education, anti-discrimination laws; even the “religious liberty” of death row inmates.

But for the first time since the historic, but notably vague, District of Columbia v. Heller decision in 2008, the high court will consider what is “reasonable” in relation to restrictions on gun rights.

Heller declared carrying a firearm to be an individual right. But it stopped there. That narrow ruling suggested reasonable bans on concealed weapons were lawful, along with bans on possession of firearms by felons and the mentally unstable, or carrying weapons in certain public places. As a result, the various lower courts have issued some wildly contradictory rulings. The New York case has the potential to severely limit, if not remove, that “wiggle room.”

As background, that limiting language in 2008 was included to get Justice Anthony Kennedy’s vote, and the resulting 5-4 decision.

But Kennedy’s retired, and his replacement, Justice Brent Kavanaugh’s record indicates he is a solid supporter of a broad interpretation of an individual right to keep and bear arms.

In 2011, for example, Kavanaugh took issue with a decision leaving much of the District of Columbia’s gun law intact. He favored striking the entire law- along with the District’s ban on semiautomatic rifles and a gun registration requirement.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett will be taking her seat in the actual courtroom for the first time this morning. She, too, represents what court observers call an “unusually expansive” view of the Second Amendment.

We’ll see on November 3 when the high court hears arguments in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v Bruen. This case represents is a real challenge to New York’s longstanding state law mandating anyone wishing to carry a handgun in public demonstrate “proper cause” to obtain a license. Critics say the “proper cause” requirement has been the “rubber ruler” that has allowed the state to grant-or deny- permits with no measurable standard.

So for 2A advocates, this session gives reason for optimism. A law that has prevented average citizens in New York from obtaining a handgun permit could be headed for the ash heap.

If you’re a gun control advocate, this case may start have you heading for your safe space.

Why’s that? Because New York’s longstanding law has been used as a foundational argument for equally restrictive restrictions on firearms from the District of Columbia to Hawaii.

The court striking down portions of the New York law will impact their laws, too. And declaring that law void would quickly open the floodgates for challenges to any law that has ever referenced New York’s law in court defenses.

Many cases are already queued up in the lower courts, waiting for the Supreme Court ruling on the New York case.

There’s another, less obvious, reason gun control groups are so concerned about the New York case making the docket.

The lower courts, including the appeals courts, all ruled against the suit -but the Supreme Court agreed to hear it anyway.

If the court wasn’t looking to do something, it didn’t need to hear the case.

Consequently, the big question about this case isn’t really “what” the court will do, it’s “how much.”

And that matters.

If the court rules that the New York law is unconstitutional, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, California and Hawaii’s restrictive gun laws will have problems, too. The outcomes in a number of cases literally hinge on the Supreme Court decision.

If New York’s restrictions are limited by the court, other laws will be impacted. If the law is tossed, restrictions in other places will be nullified as well. Lower courts are compelled to rule based on the SCOTUS decision.

A number of other suits regarding limitations on the Second Amendment are also waiting in the wings, from laws limiting gun ownership by young adults (ages 18-20), to FOID cards, magazine capacities, and 3-D printing.

President Trump’s appointment of Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, tilted what was considered a liberal-leaning court toward what many consider a more conservative leaning. That’s why conservatives have been so infuriated as Chief Justice John Roberts has so frequently sided with more liberal interpretations of cases.

On many issues however, this Court isn’t as likely to require a Roberts vote to decide questions, especially those involving the Second Amendment. In fact, a Second Amendment case even being on the docket implies “conservative” judges demanded it be there.

Chief Justice Roberts has assiduously avoided the 2A in the past, but even the Chief Justice can’t overcome a majority vote to hear cases.

Should the other five “conservative” justices agree on issues- including expanding the narrowly defined Heller decision, they’ll carry the day – without a supporting vote from Chief Roberts or affirmations from fellow Justices Sotomayor, Kagan or Breyer.

While 5-4 doesn’t necessarily represent a consensus, it is a majority. In the SCOTUS, the majority rules. Consequently, it’s safe to predict spirited arguments and equally fiery dissents should New York’s law be tossed in its entirety.

All that implies potential fireworks and the likelihood of some hysterical predictions (pre-and-post a ruling) from gun control groups.

Fairfax, Va. – National Rifle Association Executive Vice President/CEO Wayne LaPierre was re-elected by the NRA Board of Directors at their meeting today in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Annual Meeting of Members preceded the board meeting, as the NRA celebrated its 150-year anniversary.

Charles Cotton was elected NRA President; Lt. Col. Willes K. Lee (ret.) First Vice President; and David Coy Second Vice President.

“It is the honor of a lifetime for a guy who grew up hunting and plinking to become president of this 150-year-old organization – and serve our 5 million members in their fight for the Second Amendment,” says NRA President Charles Cotton. “The proceedings in Charlotte were an amazing celebration of NRA fellowship and freedom. Under the direction of Wayne LaPierre, the NRA is strong and secure – well-positioned to chart its course for the future.”

Also retaining their offices are NRA Secretary/General Counsel John Frazer and NRA Treasurer Sonya B. Rowling, Jason Ouimet was re-appointed as Executive Director for the Institute for Legislative Action and Joseph De Bergalis, Jr., Executive Director, General Operations. Read more

Just after 5 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, Allegan County Central Dispatch received a report from a helicopter crew flying over the Allegan State Game Area of a “significant fire” south of 116th Avenue, east of 46th Street, in Valley Township, southwest Michigan.

The crew said the fire was consuming large logs, which turned out to be two decks of cut timber, each approximately 30 feet tall by 150 feet long – and all of it nearly burned to the ground.

Conservation officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are now seeking the public’s assistance with any information related to the suspected arson fire. Such fires are rare; over the last five years, just 4% of fires the DNR has responded to have been determined to be arson-related.

“Although the investigation is ongoing, initial evidence suggests arson,” said Sgt. Charles Towns, with the DNR Law Enforcement Division. “This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thing.” Read more

GW:  Biden didn’t do it!

Ann Arbor, MI – Afghanistan is in the midst of a crisis. Unknown numbers of Americans and Afghan allies are in desperate need of assistance. Operation Recovery, a group of individuals who served in Afghanistan, vows not to sit idly by while so many lives are in jeopardy. Operation Recovery is a charitable organization who supports the efforts of Task Force Pineapple, a group of U.S. veterans who are working to repatriate American Citizens and Afghan allies by helping fund safe cover, movement, and medical services to injured and displaced people.

All donations, including a major contribution from EOTECH, directly influence operations for the movement of at-risk individuals out of Afghanistan as well as continuing efforts for resettlement and reintegration once back in the United States at the community level. It is expected that Operation Recovery will take on a full spectrum of refugee aid in the coming months and time is of the essence – Operation Recovery’s list of assistance requests has swelled to over 4000 people!

The war in Afghanistan lasted 20 years and has left heroes broken mentally and physically. Some never made it home. Many are still in Afghanistan. EOTECH believes in the time-honored principle of No Man Left Behind. “American patriots and Afghan allies desperately need our help now,” warns Lisa Kemp, EOTECH Director of Marketing. In the true American spirit, EOTECH is donating $50K to Operation Recovery, supporting their grassroots mission of moving people to safety now, as well as the longer-term settlement of our veterans and Afghan allies.

Success stories from Operation Recovery give donors hope and encouragement. Currently, support personnel are caring for over 550 individuals while others are protecting 70+ persons at high risk of reprisal from the Taliban. To date, Operation Recovery has moved over 800 people to safety and there is still a great deal of work left to do amidst many challenges both now and in the future.

Veteran-friendly businesses like EOTECH recognize the urgent need for donations – critical funds that provide transport, food, lodging, medical care, and safety to those within the Task Force Pineapple network. The United States owes its freedom to the sacrifices of its brave military men and women, and now is the time to help veterans, fellow Americans and allies in need. “We hope our contribution to Operation Recovery encourages like-minded businesses and individuals to donate to this time-sensitive operation,” encourages Kemp.

Operation Recovery is incredibly grateful for the support and active involvement from the community. For anyone wishing to contribute, there are many ways to send money. See Operation Recovery’s website (operationrecovery.org) for complete details. Read more