People at Work A

Heritage Trail wants your story

NORTHERN MICHIGAN - A new segment of Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail currently under development will add about 20 miles to the trail’s planned 828-mile biking route, but project managers also plan to add layers of story to this stretch that connects Higgins Lake Nursery and the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum at North Higgins Lake State Park with Hartwick Pines State Park – and you can help.

Led by the Michigan History Center, this heritage trail project in Crawford County – unofficially dubbed the Forest Heritage Trail – is welcoming local history stories. The Center is partnering with Central Michigan University and local stakeholders to identify the unique and critical history of the area and plan for a series of interpretive informational signs for people to enjoy while exploring the trail.

Dan Spegel coordinates Michigan’s Heritage Trails program. He said the right stories can help trail visitors connect with an area’s history and better understand a region’s development, character, and place in the state’s bigger history. He pointed to the Kal-Haven Trail, in southwest Michigan, as an example.

“When we put the call out for the Kal-Haven, the community came forward with some great stories,” he said.

“For example, in 1948 Joe Louis spent a month training at Great Bear Lake to get ready for a fight with Jersey Joe Walcott. We found out that in 1901, A.M. Todd started a mintoil operation that grew and revolutionized the global industry. We also learned about Julia Schelske, who in 1916 became one of the earliest female car dealers for Ford Motor Company in the town of Grand Junction,” Spegel said. “Bringing those stories into the trail makes for an experience that immerses visitors into the area’s natural and cultural history.”

For more information, contact Dan Spegel at SpegelD@Michigan. gov or call 517-420-6029.

People at work: Prudenville

By Lindy Peterson

PRUDENVILLE - Dawn Myas has been a licensed childcare provider for more than 25 years in the Prudenville and Houghton Lake area. She provides daycare for babies from about 5 weeks old to children up to age 12 for working parents. "I've always loved kids," Myas said. "I grew up in Saginaw where there were lots of kids in our neighborhood. Everyone knew each other and we all played together. My grandparents lived next door to us and there were cousins visiting all the time.

“I started babysitting my little cousins and the younger neighborkids when I was 8 years old," she added.

After moving "up north" and having two sons of her own, Myas wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. She trained and got licensed as a daycare provider. Her basic job description includes monitoring the safety of children, planning, preparing, and feeding meals, and assisting youth in routine hygiene throughout the day. She also provides age appropriate educational and fun activities for them.

In her spare time Myas volunteers for the Houghton Lake Historical Society and several animal rescue groups. She also enjoys collecting vintage Pryrex dishes. "I have hundreds of pieces in my collection," Myas said.

Dawn Myas

Robert James Lapinsky, age 76, of Roscommon, died on Friday, Feb. 5, 2021 in Grayling.

Thomas M. Duggan

Thomas M. Duggan, a.k.a. “Red”, of Roscommon, died Feb. 4, 2021.

Philip Clare Way

Philip Clare Way, 80, of Lewiston died Jan. 27, 2021 in Roscommon. Memorials to National Kidney Association.

'Patti' Box

Patricia Lynn “Patti” Box, age 73, of Roscommon, died Jan.22 , 2021, in Houghton Lake.

'Def' Waterman

Delbert Francis “Del” Waterman, age 79, of Roscommon, died Jan. 20, 2021. Memorials can be made to the Roscommon County Community Foundation’s Alexa A. Luck Memorial Fund at PO Box 824, Roscommon, MI 48653, or to the Program to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC) at 110 North River Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48198.

Mavis Marsh

Mavis Marsh, age 90, of Mio passed Feb. 15, 2021. Donations in memory of Mavis can be made to Hunters Hope Foundation at huntershope.org/home/donate.

Daniel L. Peterson

Daniel L. Peterson, 77, recently of Mio, formerly of Canton, Michigan, passed Feb. 11, 2021. Memorial donations may be directed to The Henry Ford Museum; 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124; or thehenryford.org.

Charlotte Ann Hart

Charlotte Ann Hart, 63 of Mio, passed away on Feb. 8, 2021.

Daniel Michael Durant

Daniel Michael Durant, 62, of Mio, passed Feb. 6, 2021.

'Marie' Scheenen

Dorothy "Marie" Scheenen, 56 of Mio, passed Feb. 3, 2021.

'Bob' Gusler

Robert Merle Gusler (Bob), 83, of Mio passed Jan. 30 2021.

Marilyn A. Peterson, 88, recently of Mio, formerly of Canton, Michigan, passed Jan. 30, 2021.

Memorials may be directed to the Solanus Casey Center: Attn: Fr. David Preuss, Director, 1780 Mt. Elliot Street, Detroit, Michigan 48207 or solanuscenter.org.

James G. Hatley

James G. Hatley, Sr., 77 of Lewiston, passed Jan. 24, 2021.

Raymond P. Shattuck

Raymond P. Shattuck, Sr., 73 of Mio, passed Jan. 23, 2021.

James M. Hammerle, Sr.

James M. Hammerle, Sr., 57 of Mio, passed Jan. 23, 2021.

Lelan Clarence Eckstein

Lelan Clarence Eckstein Jr., 85, of St. Helen, passed Feb. 15, 2021.

Susan Diane Reasner

Susan Diane Reasner, 69,of Rose City, passed Feb. 14, 2021.

Janette Joan Allen

Janette Joan Allen, 66, of West Branch, passed Feb. 9, 2021. Memorial contributions can be made to the Ogemaw County Humane Society.

Alan David Gwaltney

Alan David Gwaltney, 69, of St. Helen, passed Feb. 9, 2021.

Allen Artie Slade

Allen Artie Slade, 72, of West Branch, passed Feb. 6, 2021. Memorial contributions can be made to the Disabled Veterans of Ogemaw County.

Carrie Louise Castle

Carrie Louise Castle, 84, of Prescott, passed Feb. 5, 2021.

Anthony John Jameson, 49, of West Branch, passed Feb. 4, 2021.

Randalyn Lee Deetz

Randalyn Lee Deetz, 77, of St. Helen, passed Feb. 4, 2021.

Christopher Leon Gilchrist

Christopher Leon Gilchrist, 50, of St. Helen, passed Feb. 3, 2021.

Sharlene Rose Killinger

Sharlene Rose Killinger, 72, of West Branch, passed Feb. 2, 2021.

Karen Lee Farley

Karen Lee Farley, 55, of Prescott, passed Feb. 1, 2021.

Eugene Seidl

Eugene Seidl, 91, of West Branch passed Jan. 29, 2021.

Gloria M. Maxwell

Gloria M. Maxwell, 92, of Hale, passed Jan. 28, 2021. Memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Compassus Hospice.

Richard Hugh Segar

Richard Hugh Segar, 89, of West Branch,passed Jan. 28, 2021. Memorial contributions may be made to Compassus Hospice, 3217 W. M-55, Suite B, West Branch, MI 48661.

Sandra “Sandy” Lee Hufstedler, 84, passed Jan. 21, 2021 Memorial contributions can be made to Ogemaw Hills Free Methodist Church.

Dennis W. Wise

Dennis W. Wise, 73, of St. Helen, passed away Jan. 19, 2021. Memorial contributions can be made to Compassus Hospice.

Marilyn Lee Petrill

Marilyn Lee Petrill, 86, of Grayling, passed Feb. 18, 2021.

Richard Harr Ebert

Richard Harr Ebert, 90, of Roscommon, passed Feb. 7, 2021. Memorials to the Higgins Lake Foundation, PO Box 753, Roscommon, MI 48653.

Russell Edwin Shepard

Russell Edwin Shepard, 84, of Grayling, passed Feb. 7, 2021.

Joanne K. Moomey

Joanne K. Moomey, 76, 0f Grayling, passed Feb. 4, 2021.

Lynn Vermillion Isenhauer

Lynn Vermillion Isenhauer, 79, of Grayling, passed Jan. 30, 2021.

Joyce Mae Kolka

Joyce Mae (Hoerl) Kolka, 89, of Grayling, passed Jan. 26, 2021. Memorials to Mt. Hope Lutheran Church and Grayling Lions Club.

Arthur William Sigsbee

Arthur William Sigsbee, 74, of Houghton Lake, passed Jan. 22, 2021.

New deer regs set for 2021

NORTHERN MICHIGAN- Deer hunting regulations for the 2021 season were approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission at its regular meeting in February. The changes, aimed at further simplifying deer regulations and removing barriers to hunting participation, go into effect with the start of the 2021 deer hunting seasons in September.

“Our goals with these regulations are twofold: to make hunting regulations easier to understand and follow in Michigan, and also to manage Michigan’s abundant deer herd,” said DNR deer program specialist Chad Stewart. “We feel that these changes move us in the right direction.”

Some of the 2021 approved regulation changes are: • Deer Management Unit-specific antlerless deer licenses have been replaced with a universal antlerless license that can be used across multiple DMUs. - Antlerless licenses may now be purchased without an application in the Lower Peninsula and portions of the south-central Upper Peninsula that have DMUs open to antlerless deer hunting. Licenses may be used on public or private land. - In the mid-zone Upper Peninsula DMUs that are open to antlerless deer hunting, a deer hunting access permit must accompany the universal antlerless license. The deer hunting access permit, intended to limit participation where the population can be sensitive to harsh winter weather, will be available through a drawing. - The northernmost DMUs of the U.P. are closed to antlerless deer hunting in all seasons. - Archery hunters in portions of the Upper Peninsula may pursue antlerless deer on their deer or deer combo licenses. DMUs 127, 066, 131, 042, 031, 007 and 048 will be closed to antlerless harvest during the archery seasons.

The 2021 deer hunting regulations will be printed in the 2021 Hunting Digest online at Michigan.gov/ DNRDigests around July 1.

NEW MCDONALD’S

OWNERS - McDonald’s announced that Matt and Lori Schulz are the new owner/operators of the Prudenville and Houghton Lake McDonald’s restaurants, located at 1991 W. Houghton Lake Drive in Prudenville and 9307 W. Lake City Road in Houghton Lake. The Michigan natives plan to leverage their extensive McDonald’s experience to bring a broader, more diverse customer engagement to the restaurants. “Our guests … will see the difference we bring to our restaurants,” said Matt Schulz. Lori Schulz became highly skilled in the food service industry while working at a banquet hall as she was growing up. Matthew Schulz, who started working at McDonald’s when he was 14, is a third-generation “We are all about McDonald’s programs that benefit local programs,” Matt Schulz said. “We want those programs in need in our communities to feel free to approach us and we will see what we can do to help. We embrace the opportunity to help in the communities we do business in; we don’t just talk about that, we deliver.”

BRIDGE PICS – This is a photo of the former bridge near D & B Marina in St. Helen. Pictured are Richard Murphy and his children, Val, Denise and Larry. Greg Murphy took the photo. ~ Photo submitted by Chris Murphy