Posts

Dana Boomer, HANDDS to the rescue

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Dana Boomer is a pure Leelanau “local.” Born and raised along M-72 in the little valley between Fritz and Gilbert Roads on her family’s fruit farm, Boomer went to Glen Lake School part-time and was homeschooled part-time. “Six years ago, I started fostering dogs for ‘HANDDS to the Rescue.’ It is a network of dog-fosterers run by a diverse board in people’s own homes, there’s no central kennel. All of the dogs go to foster homes so that we can see their personalities in order to find the right family to adopt them,” said Boomer, who is also the Kasson Township Clerk.

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Will Kasson Planning Commission allow motorbike events on farmland?

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Photo courtesy of Michigan Spring Enduros Contentious debate fills Township Hall tonight; riders invited to flood meetings By Jacob Wheeler Sun editor Voices both in favor and against a proposed motorbike race on Memorial Day weekend on rural farmland in Leelanau County’s Kasson Township will flood the Solon Township Hall tonight, May 8, and on […]

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Dollar stores squeeze rural grocery stores

Among the biggest stories of 2019 has been attempts by dollar stores to gain a foothold in Leelanau County. Zoning regulations and citizen opposition in Kasson Township stopped a bid in Maple City this spring; then Empire instituted a 6-month moratorium on new commercial development on July 17 to prevent a contractor that works with Dollar General from purchasing land in the village.

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How township zoning and citizen opposition stopped a Dollar General in Maple City

The prospect of a Dollar General moving into the tiny Leelanau County community of Maple City drew swift, near unanimous, opposition from local citizens when the news surfaced in early April.

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Dollar General purchase offer withdrawn in Maple City

A developer working on behalf of Dollar General has withdrawn its offer to purchase three lots from the Flaska family in Maple City, realtor Deb Brown confirmed to the Glen Arbor Sun. Brown, who represents the family, said the offer was withdrawn on Friday, May 10.

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Dollar stores targeting northern Michigan towns?

Maple City and Lake Ann residents brace for potential battle with hungry national chain. Dollar stores are expanding in rural, and often economically depressed, towns throughout the United States. “Small box” dollar stores specialize in selling cheap commodities and pre-packaged food that undercut locally-owned grocery stores.

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Leelanau “old settler” Kasson Freeman combined hard work with humor in difficult times

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When Kasson township was organized in 1865, it was named in honor of Pam Peplinski’s great-great grandfather, and its eldest resident, Kasson Freeman, Jr., who was then 46. Many years later, the annual “Old Settlers Picnic,” held at the beginning of each August in Burdickville at Old Settlers Park, originally commemorated Kasson Freeman’s Aug. 3 birthday, which was coincidentally also the date our first white settlers, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Fisher, landed on Leelanau’s coast in 1854. They decided to celebrate with a picnic, then made it an annual affair.

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Q&A with Melinda Lautner and John O’Neill, District 7

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Incumbent Lautner (Republican) is challenged by O’Neill (Democrat) in District 7, which represents Kasson and Solon Townships From staff reports Glen Arbor Sun: Please name three top goals you’d like to accomplish as County Commissioner Melinda Lautner: Top three goals are: 1) See to the completion of the new 9-1-1 dispatch and radio system for […]

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86-year-old historic stone house may be leveled for gravel pit expansion

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Kasson Township resident Debbie Ellis may lose her home of 25 years in a sale that occurred unbeknownst to her early this summer. The house of stone was built in 1930, according to Kasson Township assessor Susan Baatz, after the original home burned to the ground. Now it is in danger of being torn down to make way for an encroaching gravel operation.

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Leelanau County Commission race: Melinda Lautner vs. John O’Neill

The following are interviews conducted via email with Leelanau County Commission incumbent Melinda Lautner (Republican) and her challenger John O’Neill (Democrat). Lautner represents Solon and Kasson Townships, in the middle of the County. She stands by her vote to disband Leelanau’s Economic Development Corporation, which garnered headlines statewide.

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