Out & About

ROSCOMMON COUNTY - Roscommon, Higgins Lake, Prudenville, St. Helen, Houghton Lake

February 9-13 – St. Helen Chamber of Commerce Medallion Hunt. Clues at the Chamber office and at https:// www.facebook.com/sthelen.chamber/ 10 – Business 2 Business Breakfast, Roscommon County Community Foundation, 3975 W. Federal Hwy., Ste. 2, Roscommon, 8 a.m. 12 – St. Helen SnowPackers Snow Run, Snowpackers’ Clubhouse, 520 N. St. Helen Rd., St. Helen, 10 a.m. 18-19 – Winter Fest, Higgins Lake 19 – St. Helen Community Center Soup Fundraiser, St. Helen Center, 10493 East Airport, St. Helen, 1-4 p.m. 19 – Saturday Movie Raya and the Last Dragon, Houghton Lake Public Library, 4431 W. Houghton Lake Dr., Houghton Lake, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 26 – Sprint Cars on Ice, East Bay, Houghton Lake

For info on advertising in print or online call Tracy at 989-275-1170 Out & About - February 2022

Roscommon extras:

Mons: Reserve Tech Help, Houghton Lake Public Library, 4431 W Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, sign-up online or by phone to reserve a time.

Thurs: Sit and Get Fit, Roscommon Area District Library, 106 Lake St., Roscommon, 2:30 p.m.

Fris: Storytime Fridays, Roscommon Area District Library, 10:30 am

Fris: Open Tech Hour, Roscommon Area District Library, 2 p.m. 1st Weds: Michigan Fireman’s Memorial Festival planning, Roscommon Fire Training Grounds, 290 Ballenger St., 6:30 p.m. 1st Thurs: Veterans Coffee Hour, The Roscommon County Airport. 5218 E. Houghton Lake Drive. 9-10 a.m. 2nd & 4th Thurs: Crafty Corner, RADL, 12-3 p.m.

Sats: Free Beginner Ski Lessons, Cross Country Ski Headquarters, Roscommon, 10:30 a.m. 2nd Suns: VFW Country Breakfast, VFW Post 4159, Roscommon, 8 a.m. -12 p.m..

IOSCO COUNTY - Hale, Whittemore

February 5 – Vintage Snowmobile Races, Whittemore Chamber of Commerce Hall, 405 E. Sherman, Whittemore, Registration 7:30 a.m., Races, 11:30 a.m. Iosco Extras

Weds: Bingo at Whittemore Chamber of Commerce Hall, 405 E. Sherman St., 6:30-9:30 p.m.

CRAWFORD COUNTY -

Grayling, Frederic, Lovells February 12 – 18th Annual Snowmobile Fun Run, Keg Bar, Waters, Check-in 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Finish at Gray Rock Pub & Grub, Grayling, 7 p.m. Crawford extra 1st Suns: Breakfast Buffet, American Legion Post 106, 106 S. James St., Grayling, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Call 989-348-7232 for details.

Suns & Weds: Open Skeet & Trap, 11 a.m. (excluding holidays) at the Grayling Sportsman's Club, located at 6990 Old Lake Road in Grayling .

Mons: Tai Chi, 12-1pm at The Gift-A Wellness Community, 4304 W M 72 Hwy, Grayling.

Mons: Genealogy Group, Devereaux Memorial Library, 9 a.m.12 p.m.

Mons: Eat Healthy, Be Active Class, CC Commission on Aging, 7-8 p.m. 10/25-11/22 2nd Mons: Post Meeting, American Legion Post 106, 106 S. James St., Grayling, 7 p.m. 4th Mons: Foot Care Clinic, FUTURE CC Commission on Aging, 4388 M-72 E, Grayling, 1-4 p.m.

Mons & Weds: Silver Sneakers, Crawford County Commission on Aging Senior Center, Grayling, 10 a.m.

Tues: Bible Study, Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center, 10 a.m.

Tues: Zumba Gold, FUTURE Commission on Aging, Grayling, 10 a.m.

Tues: Pistol Shooting, Grayling Sportsman’s Club, 1 p.m. (excluding holidays)

Tues & Thurs: Adult Seniors Exercise Program, Devereaux Memorial Library, 1 p.m. 2nd Tues: Auxiliary Meeting, American Legion Post 106, 106 S. James St., Grayling, 5:30 p.m.

Weds: Bingo Night at Rolling Oak, Grayling, 7-9 p.m.

Weds: Wii Bowling Team, Crawford County Commission on Aging, Grayling, 1-2 p.m.

Weds, Thurs, Sats: Free COVID19 Testing, Kirtland Community College

Weds: Basic Photography for Adults, AuSable Artisan Village, 5-6:30 p.m. (through Oct. 20)

Weds & Fris: Geri-Fit exercise class, Crawford County Commission on Aging, 4388 M-72 East, Grayling, 10 a.m. 1st Weds: NEMSCA Senior Commodities Food Truck at St. Mary’s Catholic Church parking lot, 708 Peninsular Ave., Grayling, 9:3010:30 a.m. 1st Weds: Monthly Meeting, Grayling Sportsman’s Club, 3 p.m.. 3rd Weds: Alzheimer’s Support Group at The Brook of Grayling, 503 Rose St., 11 a.m. 2nd Thurs: FAN Forum, St. Francis Episcopal Church, M-72, Grayling, 6:30 p.m.

▪ See OUT & ABOUT on page 3

Up North Voice

A Division of AuSable Media Group, LLC A veteran-owned business located at 709 Lake Street, PO Box 113, Roscommon MI 48653 “Friend, guide and companion of all good people” Up North Voice is published monthly and distributed in Roscommon, St. Helen, Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, Grayling, Lovells, Waters, Gaylord, Johannesburg, Lewiston, Comins, Atlanta, Mio, Fairview, McKinley, Rose City, Luzerne, Lupton, West Branch, Skidway Lake, Hale, Glennie, Curran, Tawas City, East Tawas, National City, Whittemore, Prescott, AuSable and Oscoda. It is available at newsstands or annually for $40. Stories, advertisements and photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher. UpNorthVoice.com is updated daily with breaking news and photos. 989-275-1170

Out & About

Continued from page 2

Fris: Blood Pressure Checks, CC Commission on Aging & Senior Center, 11:30-12:30 p.m.

Fris: Pool, Crawford Country Commission on Aging & Senior Center, Grayling, 1 p.m.

Fris: Pantry Bingo, Crawford Country Commission on Aging & Senior Center, Grayling, 1-3 p.m.

OGEMAW COUNTY - West

Branch, Rose City, Lupton February 11-13 – Fast Eddies Vintage Snow Fest (Ogemaw Hills Snowmobile Club) 12 – Ogemaw Hills Snowmobile Club Meeting, Frank Alley Park, 2846 N. Fairview Rd., West Branch, 9 a.m. (ride following) 12 – St. Joseph Trivia Night, Knights of Columbus Hall, West Branch, 5-11 p.m. 17 – Ogemaw Area Swim Boosters, Ogemaw Heights High School, Rm 210, 6 p.m. 25-26 – OHSC Annual Open

House and Vintage Snowmobile

Show, preparation Fri., show Sat. 26 – Celebrate through the Decades, Winterball, & Outstanding Business Awards, West Branch Area Chamber of Commerce, Ogemaw County Extras: 2nd Mons: Kiwanis Young Professional Club, The Highway Brewing Company, West Branch, 6 p.m. 3rd Mons: Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary Meeting, VFW Post 3775, S. M-30, West Branch, 5 p.m.

Tues: Kiwanis Club meeting, Buchilli’s Pizz., West Branch, noon. 1st Tues: West Branch Merchant Meeting, West Branch Police Station, 6 p.m.

Weds: Kids Craft Class, West Branch District Library, 119 N. 4th St., West Branch, 4-5 p.m., beginning January 26.

Weds: Bingo, Knights of Columbus Hall, West Branch, 6:45 p.m. Early Birds, 7 p.m. Regular Bingo.

Weds: Al-Anon meetings, 12-Step Club, 236 First Street, West Branch, 8 p.m. Call Susan at 989387-3440. 2nd Weds: Aktion Club, United Methodist Church, corner of Fairview & State Street, West Branch, 9:30 a.m.

Thurs: Optimist Club meeting, Logger’s Depot, 314 W. Houghton Ave., West Branch 7-8 a.m. 1st Thurs: Ogemaw County

Fair Board/Agricultural Society

Meeting, Main Building, Ogemaw County Fairgrounds, 7 p.m. 2nd & 4th Thurs: Healing Together – Compassus Hospice grief support group, Ogemaw Commission on Aging, 1508 M-33, 10-11a.m. Contact 989-343-2470. 3rd Thurs: Car Cruise and Show, ATC Auto & Truck Accessories, 2354 S. M-76, 5-8 p.m. 3rd Thurs: Business After Hours, West Branch Chamber of Commerce, 4:30-6:30 p.m. 2nd Fris: Chamber Connections, West Branch Chamber of Commerce, 7-8 a.m. 1st & 3rd Suns: Adult Children of Alcoholics, First United Methodist Church, 2490 State Rd, West Branch, 6-8 p.m.

OSCODA COUNTY – Comins, Fairview, Mio, Luzerne February 12 – 2nd Annual Valentine Ball, Oscoda County Community Center, 305 9th St., Mio, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. 27 – Pie & Praise Hymn Sing, Comins Community Church, Comins, 6:30 p.m. Oscoda County extras

2nd Mons: Chamber of

Commerce for Oscoda County

meeting, 201 Morenci Ave., Mio, 6:30 p.m. 2nd & 4th Weds.: J.O.Y. Time

(Just Older Youth) Senior Citizen

Fellowship, Comins Community Church, games 10 a.m., meal 11:30 a.m. 2nd & 4th Fris: FREE Community Clothing Closet, Comins Community Church, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 2nd Sats: Ladies’ Café, Comins Community Church, Comins, 9 a.m. 3rd Sats: Iron Men’s Breakfast, Comins Community Church, Comins 7:30 a.m.

TAWAS COUNTY

February 3 – Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce Perchville Royal Feast, Rushman Hall, 821 Newman St., East Tawas, 5-8 p.m. 4-6 – Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce Perchville USA, East Tawas, see https://tawas.com/ event/2022-perchville-usa/ for events and times.

REGION - All other. Mostly

Gladwin, Glennie, Oscoda, and Gaylord

February 9 – Business After Hours, Bill Marsh Ford, 1928 S. Otsego Ave., Gaylord, 5-7 p.m. 23 – Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, Treetops Resort, 3962 Wilkinson Rd., Gaylord, 5-8 p.m.

Tracy Constance Marketing

Tracy@UpNorthVoice.com

Alesia Willobee Marketing

Alesia@ UpNorthVoice.com

Warren Stutesman Reporter

wstutesman@gmail.com

Mike Salsbury Reporter

michaelallensalsbury@ gmail.com

Axel Jacobs Roscommon Distribution

Matthew Barnes Grayling Distribution

Cody Jackson Mio Distribution

Mark Constance Editor Emeritus

MConstance@ UpNorthVoice.com

Letter to the editor policy:

AuSable Media Group encourages all readers with a connection to the community to submit letters to the editor for possible publication.

Please limit letters to 300 words. Author must include a daytime contact number.

Letters are the individual opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the staff, advertisers or contributors to the Voice.

The Voice reserves the right to accept or reject any letter.

To submit a letter email it to: tracy@upnorthvoice.com, mail to P.O. Box 113, Roscommon, MI 48653, or stop by the office at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon.

Letter to the Editor ‘Secure MI Vote’ a ruse to make voting harder

To the editor:

Perhaps you have been asked on a downtown street or in front of the library to sign a petition called Secure MI Vote. If you’re like me, that sounds like a no brainer. Securing everyone’s right to vote is something we at the League of Women Voters take seriously. After all, it’s integral to our mission to empower voters. Our goal is for every person to have the desire, right, knowledge, and confidence to participate in our democracy.

So when asked to sign the Secure MI Vote petition, I was sure to say yes until I started asking questions. It didn’t take long before I realized the goal of the campaign is to restrict access to voting, not expand it. The ballot initiative seeks to use a loophole in the MI constitution to enact legislation without a vote of the people. Plus, it would be veto proof.

Michigan voters supported Prop 3 in 2018 by 66.8% amending the constitution to expand voting rights by making it easier to register and vote. The voters made it clear that assuring the right to vote was the tool we need to protect democracy. Since then, bills have been introduced to make election administration and oversight less equitable and to undermine existing laws that maintain election security.

The League of Women Voters wants all citizens to be aware of the misrepresentation of this petition. The Secure MI Vote initiative is meant to discourage voters. It includes restrictions on absentee voting, stricter ID laws, and puts limits on volunteer support of elections. It is designed to bring fewer people to the polls.

Wouldn’t it be great to earmark sufficient funding for elections to recruit, train, and retain workers and add equipment such as secure drop boxes and tabulators? Wouldn’t it be grand to authorize clerks to continue to mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in every election cycle? Wouldn’t it be smart to continue statewide risk-limiting audits of election results prior to state certification? (250 audits were conducted in the last election cycle due to the Prop 3 proposal that voters endorsed.)

These are just a few of the things the League of Women Voters would like to see initiated. The best possible outcome could be voter encouragement in a Secure the Right to Vote initiative. That is not what’s being proposed. That is not what we’re being asked to sign.

When the number of signatures reaches 340.047, the Legislature could enact voter suppression measures that we cannot repeal. This number reflects less than 4% of MI voters. Please be informed and don’t be fooled.

Marcia Koppa

Grayling

League of Women Voters

▪ See SECURE MI VOTE on page 5

Shelter thankful for the ‘Betty White’ challenge

Along with animal shelters all over the United States, the AuSable Valley Animal Shelter of Crawford County took part in the Betty White Challenge.

To celebrate Betty White's 100th birthday on January 17th, animal lovers were encouraged to donate $5 or more in her honor.

White was a known advocate and lovers of all species of animals. The Shelter, located in Grayling, raised close to $3,200 to help with veterinarian costs for their "guests".

Many thanks go to the wonderful donors.

Linda R. Barber President, AuSable Valley Animal Shelter Board of Directors

CORRECTION – In the January 2022 issue of Up North Voice, Ryan Bills and Bryan Gadowski were pictured outside of Blue Collar Clothing in Mio. They were incorrectly identified. We apologize for the error.

The ‘Pulsations of America

By Slim Randles, Home Country

“Windy … leave it to you to come up with something none of us ever really thought about before.”

“Well, Del,” Windy said to our one-man chamber of commerce, Delbert McLain,

I figger you got more-a your finger on the pulsations of America than anybody else whoever lives ‘round here.”

Delbert’s promotional agility is amazing to behold. Why, just the International Knife Sharpening Olympics by itself was enough to make a guy legendary, and it didn’t even happen because they couldn’t find enough dull knives to get it started. But the idea was worthwhile.

“I’m thinking what you need, Windy, is a campaign. You know … let everyone know about you wanting an honorary degree and just keep at it until it … happens.”

“Campaign?”

“Sure. How many local folks realize just how important that degree is to you?”

“Jest a couple’s all.”

“Hey, guy,” Delbert said, “let’s get out there and beat the drum on this. Okay? I’m behind your campaign all the way. Well, no, I can’t actually neglect my duties as the chamber of commerce to actively … campaign for you. But you figure something out and stick with it, and my money’s on you getting that degree. And if anyone asks for a reference, you just tell them to ask me.”

“Thanks so much, Delbert, you’re the best. So what should I do now?”

“Beats me,” he said, “but I know you’ll come up with something.”

Higgins WinterFest

Continued from page 1

crazy cardboard classic sled race, horse drawn wagon rides, ice slide, kid’s activities and more.

One change this year is the location of the everpopular Chili Cook Off, which will be held at the Lyon Township Fire Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

New this year is a Medallion Hunt. Information where to find the clues will be made available prior to the event. Whoever finds the medallion will receive a $250 gift card to Cut River Grille. The public is also invited to an After Glow party at Silver Dollar Pub and Grill starting at 4 p.m. As part of the After Glow, there will be an awards ceremony, silent and live auction with great items, as well as the drawing for the $1,000 winner of our WinterFest raffle.

Secure MI vote

Continued from page 4

Editor’s note: “If Secure MI Vote” were to gather enough signatures, it would take another formal ballot proposal and amendment to the state constitution, forcing Michigan taxpayers to fund another election.

Prop 3, the constitutional amendment Michigan voters approved in 2018 enshrined the following: - Provides for the auditing of election results - Provides for the automatic voter registration of eligible persons when interacting with the state regarding driver’s license or state ID card, unless the person declines

- Provides that military members and overseas voters receive an absentee ballot at least 45 days before the election. - Provides that eligible persons can register to vote by mail until 15 days before an election - Provides that eligible persons can register to vote in person at a clerk's office during the final 14 days before an election and at the polls on election day - Provides voters with straightticket voting option - Provides that any voter can vote using an absentee ballot (no-excuse absentee voting) during the 40 days before an election

Pictured (l-r) are Carl Harmon(my Dad, deceased), Larry Harmon, Denver Moore (cousin, deceased), Gary Moore(cousin visiting from WA.) and Tom Harmon(my brother). Coyote in the snow

By Larry Harmon

We all have a lot of stories we could tell about hunting in the woods around St. Helen, MI. I have been hunting in that area since I was a young boy, with my grandfather, dad, uncles, cousins, close friends and my brother, Tom. It is down to just Tom and I now and we sort of joke about who will be the last man standing.

I know and love this area. I always enjoy being out in the forest alone to explore and take in the natural wildness of the northern Michigan landscape. It is a beautiful wilderness and you never know what to expect. There is something just spectacular about walking in the cold, deep snow where the only tracks are animal ones. Following the familiar trails and seeing wildlife up close in their natural habitat feeds my soul and calms my mind!

Once, I was hunting by myself inside a thick green cedar swamp. My dad was hunting in a heated box blind about a half-mile away. He was in his 80’s at the time and got cold easily. I would check on him frequently and use it as an excuse to go inside and warm up a little myself.

We had a foot of snow on the ground at the time. It began to rain hard. So, I got close under three of the trees and covered up with my army camo poncho. Only my eyes were visible and I felt like a sniper hiding in the brush waiting for something to appear. I began blowing my doe call to hopefully attract a big buck.

I waited about 10 minutes. Suddenly, I spotted movement on my left. For a brief moment, I saw a coyote in an opening between two trees about 30 yards away. He was big, with lots of thick gray fur and at first I thought it was a wolf.

In an instant he was gone out of my sight. A few minutes later, I saw movement on my right. It was the coyote again. He had circled me and gotten downwind. He looked straight at me and our eyes met.

In a flash, he disappeared so fast, I did not even have time to get a shot off. He must have thought from the noise I was a deer at first, until he finally got my scent.

It was one of those memorable hunting experiences, I call a teachable moment and always like to recall in my mind!