2008-06-19

CLOSE TO THE WATER



Jerry Chotkowski stands between his summer home on West Shore Drive at Houghton Lake and the lake Friday morning in about eight inches of water after heavy rains hit the area during the early morning hours. “It usually comes from the lake,” said Chotkowski, who added that he and his wife Carole, who are from Shelby Township, have had three […]

MOST EVER



(Left) The parking lot at North Shore Hardware on East Houghton Lake Drive lies under water Friday morning after heavy rains hit the area. Owners Robb and Beth Smith said it was the most water that has ever built up in front of their business since they started in 1994. The water did no damage, but temporarily shut down the […]

‘THOUSANDS OF HAIL BALLS’



Tony Olkowski snapped this photo of hail that fell near his home in Lyon Manor on the west side of Higgins Lake on June 15. “We heard what sounded like rocks hitting the house,” Olkowski said. “Looking outside we saw thousands of hail balls falling from the sky. They would bounce a couple inches off of the grass after hitting […]

Chamber plea seeks to save Tip-up Town



Houghton Lake’s annual Tip-up Town, U.S.A. festival is facing an Aug. 1 go or no go deadline. According Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce President Dave DenBoer, recent publicity around the health of the winter carnival is not a “joke, advertising stunt or threat.” It’s reality. DenBoer and his fellow TUT Executive Committee have set the Aug. 1 deadline to decide […]

Second accident leads to hit-and-run suspect



An accident near Grayling June 5 led to a suspect in a hitand run accident which injured two people on I-75 near St. Helen a short time earlier. In the first accident, witnesses told Richfield Township Police a dark full-size pickup truck traveling at high speed collided with a passenger car as it passed the smaller vehicle. The collision caused […]

In the record books



This month is just a little more than half over, but it already has gone down in the record books as the wettest June on record at Houghton Lake. According to the National Weather Service, Gaylord, the old June precipitation record of 6.72 inches, set in 1943, fell on June 13, when 2.1 inches of rain fell, bringing the total […]

Business owners ‘positive’ in light of economic profile



An economic perspective on Houghton Lake published in Crain’s Detroit Business June 2 has caught the attention of several Houghton Lake business owners. The story, “Climate change: Weak economy dashes dreams in Houghton Lake,”written by Hawke Fracassa for Crain’s, drew attention to the number of businesses and homes for sale in the area. “I think he was looking for bad […]

Higgins Lake sewer project construction half complete



The sewer system and waste water treatment plant to service the Camp Curnalia (American Legion) area of Lyon and Beaver Creek Townships is approximately 50% complete. Construction of the sewer lines and the treatment plant started last fall, and all the homes in the Camp Curnalia Cottage Owners Association, along Higgins Lake, should be connected to the new system by […]

Senate committee passes ORV bill



More than a year after passing unanimously in the Michigan House of Representatives, a bill granting townships and counties more authority to open roads to off-road vehicles has finally made its way out of a state senate committee. Dick Ranney, coordinator of the Michigan Motorized Recreation Council, said the Senate Committee of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs unanimously passed House […]

Denton officials offering prize for new lakeside park name



Denton Township is seeking a name for its new park, formerly the 123 Lake Street property. A $50 prize is being offered to the person whose park name is selected. The prize was donated by township board members. Helpful hints for naming the park: The park will be a docile park and it cannot be named after a person. Send […]