Dave Taghon

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Big wheels return to Empire Museum

Over the years Mother Nature again took her toll on the giant wheels displayed in front of the Empire Museum Complex. After many years of patching, and replacing rotting parts by Pat and Dave Taghon, Leigh Payment, Bill Bolton and others, it was decided that they were beyond repair. On May 11, Dennis Taghon and Leigh Payment picked up the completed ‘Wheels’ and brought them back ‘home’ to Empire. The last challenge in this project was to get them painted and back on display at the museum. On the sunny morning of June 25, the team picked up the repainted wheels from Precision Collision in Frankfort. At around noon, after an arduous trip at around 35 to 40 miles per hour, the caravan of Mike in the lead, Leigh with the trailer and wheels, and Dennis bringing up the rear, they arrived in Empire.

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Empire pillar, historian Dave Taghon stood in a class by himself

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The sudden death of Dave Taghon on Jan. 3 struck family and friends from far and wide. Despite the fact he spent most of his life in Empire, Taghon’s influence spread far beyond the little village. He was a ready source of information about the area’s history, but more importantly, a vital part of its present and presence through his work on the village council, at his church, with the local Lions Club, and at his family’s gas station for nearly 40 years.

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Democracy in Leelanau: what unites us in politically divided times

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In the run-up to the heated and divisive Nov. 5 presidential election, we decided to produce a series of short video profiles which featured Leelanau County residents of different generations, different genders, and different political persuasions. The goal was to explore what unites us—what traits we have in common—in these politically divided times. We asked 10 residents the following questions: “What do you like about living in Leelanau County?”; “What are your favorite autumn traditions?”; “What are you eating these days?” and “What does living in a democracy mean to you?” The message in these video profiles is to show that—while your neighbor or your family member might display a different political yard sign and vote differently than you—we have more in common than we think, and we should remember and embrace what binds us together despite the caustic atmosphere around the election campaigns.

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What unifies us in politically divided times. Life and democracy in Leelanau

“What do you like about living in Leelanau County?” “What are your favorite autumn traditions?” “What are you eating these days?” “What does living in a democracy mean to you?” These are the questions we’re asking a few County residents as we explore what unifies us in these politically divided times with the Nov. 5 presidential election looming just days away. The message in these short video profiles is to show that—while your neighbor or your family member might display a different political yard sign and vote differently than you—we have more in common than we think, and we should remember and embrace what binds us together despite the caustic atmosphere around the election campaigns. Our first video features musician Luke Woltanski, who lives in Maple City.

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Empire museum exhibit commemorates local World War II pilot

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The search for hometown heroes has a new chapter in Northern Michigan. An Empire Area Museum Center exhibit, standing front and center among the plethora of historic artifacts, tells the story of World War II pilot Col. Warren Aylsworth. It also speaks to the community’s ongoing effort to preserve its history, one remarkable citizen at a time.

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Elixirs, ice cream, and soon lunch at Tiffany’s

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The building at 10213 W. Front St. in Empire has been many things to many people. Built in the late 1800s, a steady stream of merchants have sold, among other things, dry goods, millinery supplies, groceries, pharmaceuticals, hand-carved eggs and theater tickets.

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Empire Emergency Fund hosts concert by E Minor and Libby Liberty

The next Empire Area Community Emergency Fund Concert will be held on Sunday, Dec. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Empire Town Hall. We are in for another treat with a special musical performance by E Minor and Libby Liberty. Mr. Empire Dave Taghon will also conduct a live auction and sell many unique and unusual items.

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Racing Empire Bluff

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The Empire Hill Climb, which ran from 1964 until 1980 — once in the spring and once in the fall — returns to action on Sept. 20. Approximately 20 drivers have signed up, and they’ll take turns racing the curvy, half-mile route up Wilco Rd. (toward the Empire Bluffs trail parking lot) between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. A racecar expose from 9-9:45 a.m. on Front Street will precede the main event.

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Empire Emergency Fund Concert features Cabin Fever

Gerry Shiffman reports that the next Empire Area Community Emergency Fund Concert will be held on Sunday, December 22, from 4-6 p.m. at the Empire Township Hall. The feature performers for this event will be Empire’s own “Cabin Fever String Band”.

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Rescue found, but reasons for sinking remain a mystery

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Local diver, filmmaker and author Ross Richardson has solved one local mystery — the location of the steamship Rescue, which owner Ralph Dorsey intentionally sank in Big Glen Lake 98 years ago. But the reason why Dorsey destroyed his boat is known only by the lake, and Dorsey’s ghost, leaving folklore to play a guessing game.

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