Inset, Oscoda County Special Deputy Ryan Blair was part of the "Turkeys instead of tickets program." The event is sponsored by the Oscoda County Sheriff Department and Family Fare.

Above, youths make Christmas decorations at the Christmas Walk in Grayling. See more photos on page A-13

Laughing Buck: B-6

Hale District Volleyball: C-5

Roscommon sheriff offers property checks: C-2

Eagle Voice: C-1

Grayling Christmas Walk: A-13

Sheriff without a shave: A-12

Santa Train A-7

What's in this issue:

Strengthening the communities of Northeast Michigan Vol. 11, Issue 17

Voice

December 2019

Free Up North

Hand me down still feeding family

Old Winchester in use for 146 years By Jim Smith

OSCODA COUNTY - In 1894 Albert Dew from Scotland, arrived in Oscoda County. Dew was one of the very first settlers in the Comins and Fairview area. With him he brought a rifle, a Model 1876 Winchester in .45-60 caliber, a black powder cartridge. He made his living shooting deer to feed the numerous lumber camps in the area. According to Judy Lunning, Albert’s Great-great-grand-daughter, when Albert passed, the rifle was willed to Judy’s Uncle, Harry Dew, who didn’t hunt a great deal. However, he promised Judy that when she and her husband, Damien, built a house they would receive the rifle to hang on the mantle. They built the house and, true to his word, Uncle Harry passed the Winchester which took up residence over the fireplace. Now the rifle wasn’t always an ornament. In 1969 Judy used it to take a nice eight-point buck in the same area as her Greatgrandpa. Illustrating how important this firearm had become to the family, Judy said when their house burned in 1990 the first thing Damien grabbed was the Winchester. Fast forward to this deer season of 2019. Shannon and Damien have retired to the settlement of Rous-

Albert Dew (left) shot this eight-point buck in 1894 near Comins with the Winchester 76. Twenty five years later, the Winchester spoke again in the hands of his Great-great-grandson, Tanner Lunning, who downed an 8-point this season.

seau in Ontonagon County in the Upper Peninsula. Their son, Tanner, was hunting opening day when he chanced upon a nice eight- point buck about one-half mile from Rousseau. The Winchester spoke again 125 years after Great, great grandfather Dew used it to feed the loggers and once again, provided fine meat for

the Lunning table. The Winchester Model 1876 was a black powder rifle, not designed for modern smokeless powder load. Factory ammunition is very difficult to find. Fortunately, Tanners dad, Damien, hand-loads and can fabricate cartridges for the rifle. Despite being underpowered when compared to modern cartridges,

the old girl, in the hands of a marksman can still get the job done. The Winchester 76 was a favorite of Teddy Roosevelt’s on his Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota and on his trips to Africa. To the Lunning family, the rifle has become a part of their heritage putting food on the table for over a century,

Christmas events across the region Editor’s note: These are some of the holiday events across Northeast Michigan. If you have events that aren’t listed here, please enter them into the calendar at UpNorthVoice. com 1 - Christmas decorating at the Barton City Park and a bonfire at noon. Contact Bill Lossing at lossing46wh@yahoo.com or call (989) 335-3895. 6 - VIP Night in Fairview will be christened with a 25-foot Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. It will take place in Fairview’s future Town Square, the now vacant lot that sits across the street from Bill’s Market. The Christmas tree, a graceful and lovely spruce, is being donated by Whitehouse Disposal Service of Mio. There are plans for wagon rides, choral arrangements sung by the Fairview Choir, and of course the traditional open-door spirit of Fairview’s business community. 7- Christmas in the Village in Roscommon. See complete schedule of events, including the Santa Train, on pages A 7-10 7 – Grayling Moose Lodge 1162 Annual Kids 1-4 p.m. at 7970 S. Grayling Rd | Grayling, MI 49738. Children 12 and under: Santa will be

here to greet them to give them a gift. Info: Cathy Funkey at 586-994-9597. 7 - 15th Annual "Northern Lights Parade" & Community Gathering in Downtown Oscoda. Call the Chamber or visit our Facebook page for registration (Parade Participants, fundraiser groups/vending at OTWP, Reindeer Fun Run). Reindeer Fun Run/Walk starts at 2 p.m. (sign-in between 1:30 –2 p.m.) on Furtaw Field. This is a self-timed stroll. 7 - Children's Christmas Party Brush Creek Mill in Hillman. Free to all area children. Pictures w/ Santa, crafts, games, cookie decorating & more. Everything is free for school age and younger children- Hillman 8 - Commemorative Tree Lighting Ceremony - Brush Creek Mill in Hillman. Remember your loved ones who have passed and honor those who serve the community or in the military. 8- Sunrise Ringers Handbell Choir’s Holiday Concert featuring seasonal and reflective winter selection. Harrisville location TBD. Doors open at 2:30pm, concert begins at 3pm Donations accepted at the door. Contact Margaret Fox (989) 7363025.

Out & About

Editor’s note: To submit an event for Out and About, please enter it on the website at UpNorthVoice.com. You can also email Warren Stutesman at warren@upnorthvoice.com

Thank you for reading!

Alcona County

December 1 - Christmas decorating at the Barton City Park and a bonfire at noon. Contact Bill Lossing at lossing46wh@yahoo.com or call (989) 335-3895. 2- HARVEST TIME COMFORT FOOD BUFFET 4-7 p.m. Grace Lutheran Church, 401 Main St East Tawas. Adults $14 Kids 6-10 $7 under 6 is free. 6- Join local musicians in a casual jam session at the Harrisville United Methodist Church (fellowship hall), 217 N. State St. Light refreshments will be served during this free event. This friendly get-together is co-sponsored by the church and Inspiration. 7- Harrisville’s Christmas in the Village from 9am - 3pm At least 40 vendors at Maria Hall behind St. Anne Catholic Church. Contact

Page 2 December 2019

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9- Northern Blend Chorus presents Christmas Memories a free concert 2 p.m. at the Tawas United Methodist Church 20 M-55 Tawas City 14- Christmas Light Parade & Tree Lighting 7 p.m. in West Branch. Parade Route Line up- South Valley & Griffin by Smiley Tower Parade will then go down Houghton Ave to Eighth Street Contact Information: 989-345-2821 Fees/ Admission: Parade Entries can get a parade form by visiting the website or stopping into the chamber. 21 - Holiday Happenings dropin Activity at the AuSable Artisan Village Gallery. No preregistration required. Visit the Artisan Village anytime from 1-3 p.m. Donations accepted. Sugar cookie cut-outs will be available for you to decorate with frosting and sprinkles. Open to children of all ages. Come play and make << Continued 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 << Continued from Page 2

Christy Holmes (989) 724-5549, chamber office (989) 724-5107 or alconacountychamber@gmail.com. 7- Christmas Holiday open house from 1-3pm at Dragonfly Art Gallery, 116 E. Main St., Harrisville. Contact Lynne Freitag (989) 4647306. 7- BETHLEHEM BREAKFAST 9:30am – 2:30pm Zion Lutheran Church A gathering for ladies to preserve the true meaning of Christmas 8- Sunrise Ringers Handbell Choir’s Holiday Concert featuring seasonal and reflective winter selection. Harrisville location TBD. Doors open at 2:30pm, concert begins at 3pm Donations accepted at the door. Contact Margaret Fox (989) 7363025. 20- Tax Day Boogie-Woogie Blues. Matthew Ball, the Boogie Woogie Kid plays for taxpayers to lift their spirits at 5:30 p.m. at the Harrisville branch of the Alcona County Library, 312 W. Main St. Contact

Will St. John (989) 736-3000.

Crawford County

3- Christmas Sing-along December 3 @ 5:45 pm Crawford County Commission on Aging, 308 Lawndale 4- JASON HUDY: THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS10:30am & 1:00pm Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts Get ready to be immersed in a show that will amaze and amuse you. 5- Flannel and Frost- Don We Now Our Plaid Apparel. 5:30-7:30pm at the AuSable Artisan Village and Paddle Hard Brewing. Local Art, Live Music, Door Prizes, 50/50 drawing and more. Chamber Members $5 others $10. 7- Lake State Railway Santa Train & Toys for Tots 5-8 p.m. On Saturday, Crawford County Historical Society and Museum, Lake State Railway, Up North Voice, and Blarney Stone Broadcasting are

coordinating to bring Toys for Tots and the Santa Train to the Grayling Depot. Board the train to meet Santa, take pictures, and share your Christmas wish list. Museum will be open from 5-8 p.m. with refreshments. 12- Jan. 25 Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” 12- 7 The AuSable Artisan Village and Dharma Records USA invite you to an evening of musical memories. from the 1050s-80s MCMB (Motor City Memories Band). This is a NO COVER show provided by the AAV. 14- Jan. 11, 2020, a two-mile snowshoe hike at Hartwick Pines. We have several pairs of snowshoes

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for you to borrow if you don’t have your own. Snowshoe fitting begins at 7:30 p.m. Event is free but a Michigan Recreation Passport is required for entry to the park. Subject to Weather related cancelation. Call 989-348-2537.

Iosco County

07- EMPTY BOWLS 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1 9- Northern Blend Chorus presents Christmas Memories a free concert 2pm at Tawas United Methodist Church 20 M-55 Tawas City << Continued on Page 4

December 2019 Page 3

Voice Staff Mark Constance Publisher

mconstance@ UpNorthVoice.com

Joyce Clark Marketing

joyce@upnorthvoice.com

Tracy Constance Marketing

tracy@UpNorthVoice.com

<< Continued from Page 3

Lindy Peterson Reporter

lindythemermaid@yahoo. com

Jim Smith Reporter

jackpinetech@i2k.net

Warren Stutesman Reporter warren@upnorthvoice.com

William Broadnax Distribution Manager williambroadnax2015@ gmail.com

Send your photos, announcements and club events to: info@UpNorthVoice. com

Page 4 December 2019

9- THE SOUNDS OF THE HOLIDAYS - TAWAS COMMUNITY CONCERT BAND 7:30pm Emanuel Lutheran School Gym, 300 North St., Tawas City 11- Christmas decorations judging in Barton city at 6pm Contact Bill Lossing lossing46wh@yahoo. com or call (989) 335- 3895. 14- Cookie walk. 9 a.m. to noon at the Tawas Area Presbyterian Church 19- Veterans Coffee Hour from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at American Legion Audie Johnson Post 211, 900 EastLincoln Street, East Tawas 31- New Year’s Eve Celebration with our KIDDOS. 6-8pm at Wiltse's Cabernet Room 5606 F-41 Oscoda. Pizza Bar, Gifts, Dancing, Sparkling Juice Toast at 8 p.m. Ball Drop, Balloons, Confetti, Bubbles. Cost per KIDDO (all ages) $4.99

Montmorency County

5- Friends of the Library – Holiday Gala Lewiston 14 - Ride with Santa at Patchwood Plaza - Hillman 14 - Ladies Night Out – Great times will be had by all the ladies -- tour the town -- get in the holiday spirit with friends and shop. Lewiston 17 - Monthly Chamber of Commerce Meeting at Patchwood Plaza

Hillman at 9 a.m. 20 - Music at the Mill - Brush Creek Mill - Caroling and Tree Judging Results - Hillman

Ogemaw County

3- CASA Wreath Auction 6:30pm 14th Annual Dinner and Wreath Auction to benefit Ogemaw County Friends of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). 7- Lake State Railway is coming to West Branch with Santa at noon. Stop at the railroad depot (chamber of commerce); Holiday Art Walk & Wine Tasting from 5-9 p.m. 9- Northern Blend Chorus presents Christmas Memories, a free concert, 7pm at the Ogemaw Hills Free Methodist Church. 3480 M-76 West Branch 21- Christmas Fantasy in West Branch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Website: westbranchevents.com

Roscommon County

1- 6th Annual Trestle Park Express and Tree Lighting starts at 3pm. Visit Santa, Face Painting, Crafts, Stories with Ms. Laurie. 4:30 group walk to Trestle Park. 4:45 Carols, Hot Chocolate and Tree Lighting. Denton Township Stone Hall 2565 South Gladwin Rd. in Prudenville

7- Christmas in the Village

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in Roscommon. See complete schedule of events, including the Santa Train, on pages A 7-10

7 – Youth Makers Market at the Sawmill Business Center in Roscommon from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 14 – Bird and the Bear Christmas Festival from 5-8 p.m. Horse carriage rides, bonfire, smores. 14 – Lighted Christmas Parade in St. Helen Starting at 6 p.m. Lineup between 4:30 and 5 p.m. 16 – Blood Drive at VFW in Roscommon from noon to 5:45 p.m. 20 – Time to Shine Christmas Decorating Contest in St. Helen for homes and businesses. 25 – Roscommon Christmas Dinner at the VFW from 1-5 p.m. Hall is located at 209 Terrace Street.

January

18, 19 and 25- Tip Up Town, USA 70th Year Anniversary, Houghton Lake

Recurring

Story Time: Every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the library. Join Miss Julie in a wonderful morning program. Children learn how to socialize, explore their creative side, and grow their love of reading. It is a great way to start the day! Sit and Get Fit: Every Thursday at 2:30pm: Come and do light exercises. It is a great way to stay mobile andkeep those joints moving. Genealogy Interest Group: The last Wednesday of every month

AuSable Printing and Publishing ‘Your concept, our expertise’ Whether its business cards, brochures, clothing, or dozens of other unique marketing items, we are Northern Michigan’s source for quality commercial printing and marketing services.

For a quote please call 989-275-1170 or email mconstance@UpNorthVoice.com

For info on adverting in print or online call Tracy at 989-275-1170

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 : info@UpNorthVoice.com, mail to P.O. Box 113, Roscommon, MI 48653, or stop by the office at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon.

Merry Christmas from the staff of Up North Voice UpNorthVoice.com

December 2019 Page 5

Obituaries & Death Notices Max Alfred Bradley Max Alfred Bradley, age 94 of Roscommon, died on Monday, November 4, 2019 in Roscommon. Donations in Max’s name may be made to First Congregational Church Missions. Arrangements handled by Wagner & Walsh Funeral Homes of Roscommon.

Roger Keith Miller

Roger Keith Miller, age 79 of Roscommon, died peacefully on Thursday, November 7, 2019 in Gaylord, Michigan. Donations may be made to Higgins Lake Baptist Church, 7461 West Higgins Lake Dr, Roscommon, MI 48653. Arrangements handled by Wagner & Walsh Funeral Homes of Roscommon.

June Louise Stephenson June Louise Stephenson, age 90 of Roscommon, died on Monday, November 11, 2019. Arrangements handled by Wagner & Walsh Funeral Homes of Roscommon.

Veryl Wayne Gulick Veryl Wayne Gulick passed away at the Brook of Roscommon on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, surrounded by his family at the age of 87. In lieu of flowers, donations in Veryl’s memory may be made to Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve, P.O. Box 421, Roscommon, MI 48653, or to Munson Hospice. Arrangements handled by Wagner & Walsh Funeral Homes of Roscommon.

Isobel McCarroll Isobel McCarroll of Houghton Lake passed away on November 18 at the age of 95. Memorial contributions may be made to Markey Church, 4736 Flint Road, Roscommon, MI 48653. Arrangements handled by Wagner & Walsh Funeral Homes of Roscommon.

Richard Frederick 'Dick' Reno Richard Frederick “Dick” Reno, age 82, of Roscommon, died on Saturday, November 23, 2019, at his home in the presence and comfort of his wife. Memorial contributions may be made in Richard’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. Arrangements handled by Wagner & Walsh Funeral Homes of Roscommon.

Marlin A. Hardy Marlin A. Hardy, 86, of Lewiston, MI, passed away Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at his home. Memorial donations may be made to the Michigan Humane Society, 20300 Telegraph Road, Ste. 220, Bingham

Page 6 December 2019

Farms, MI 48025-4507. Mona "Jeanne" Troyer Lee, 86, of Mio passed away peacefully on November 11, 2019.

Donna D. Stopczynski Donna D. Stopczynski, age 88 of Mio, Michigan, passed away at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw, MI on Thursday, November 7, 2019. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Mary Catholic Church, P.O. Box 189, Mio, MI 48647.

June Louise Ginther June Louise Ginther, 85, of Grayling, passed away October 31, 2019, in the comfort and peace of her home, with her family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the ARK (Association to Rescue Kritters), 3878 S Maple Valley Rd, St Helen MI 48656.

Carolyn Jane Alma Carolyn Jane (Parrott) Alma, 76, of Frederic, went home to be with the Lord on November 8, 2019. For those that wish to remember Carolyn by memorial contribution, consider the following: First Baptist Church, CHARGE Syndrome Foundation. 141 Middle Neck Road Sands Point, NY 11050, or Global Down Syndrome Foundation 3239 E. 2nd Avenue Denver, CO 80206.

Nicholas James Lovely Nicholas James Lovely, 38, of Grayling, passed away unexpectedly on November 8, 2019.

Glenna Hall Glenna Hall, 53, of Beaver Creek Township, passed away on November 13, 2019.

Jeanne Eleanore Duran Jeanne Eleanore Duran (gram me-me), 97, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-great grandmother, and sister passed away quietly and peacefully on Nov. 16, 2019.

Vernon Floyd Ritenburgh Vernon Floyd Ritenburgh, 90, of Caledonia, passed away on November 21, 2019.

Clarence Frederick Bryans Clarence Frederick Bryans (92) of Grayling passed away peacefully at home Saturday, November 23, 2019.

UpNorthVoice.com

42nd

Annual

Christmas in the Village

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7TH â&#x20AC;¢ Roscommon, MI See Schedu le Inside !

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December 2019 Page 7

2019 Schedu 8:30am -11:00am Breakfast with Santa At Roscommon High School, Sponsored by Roscommon High School Marching Bucks. 10:00am Cookie Walk and Craft Table Good Shepherd United Methodist Church of the North, 149 West Robinson Lake Rd. 10:00am - 8:00pm Christmas Open House Gallimore Boarding House. Cookies & candy for sale and FREE wassail will be served.

3:00pm - 4:00pm Lake State Railway Santa Train. AuSable River Center. Meet Santa on the railroad. 12:00pm - 8:00pm Model Train Displays at numerous business locations around town. Presented by the Roscommon Model Railroad Club.

11:00am - 8:00pm Craft Show at CRAF Center with '41' crafters. CIV 4 Week Raffle Tickets. Plus: Pre-Order pasties from CIV at the CRAF Center. Pasties will be made Jan. 25. Price $5.00 each or 4 for $18.00. 11:00am - 7:00pm Small Christmas Tree Auction for the Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center in the small gym at the CRAF Center. 11:00am - 2:00pm Kids Corner at CRAF Center make and take Craft. Sponsored by Don Nester Chevrolet.

12:00pm - 8:00pm Christmas Tree Silent Auction by the Roscommon Elementary School Classes at Richardson School House. 12:00pm - 8:00pm Book Fair by The Literacy Council. At the CRAF Center 12:00pm - 5:00pm Sky High Gymnastics Open House. With a donation-of canned good kids can play on equipment. 12:00pm - 5:30pm Chain Saw Demos by Timber Art On the CRAF Center lawn. 1:00pm - 3:00pm Roscommon Area District Library Kids Craft and Christmas movie.

Page 8 December 2019

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ule of Events 2:30pm - 5:00pm AuSable River Center Visit the River Center for free refreshments and register for door prize. 4:00pm - 8:00pm Streets are Closed and Open House at Village Dusk Luminaries welcome you down 5th and Lake Streets. 4:00pm - 8:00pm Live Reindeer Stop by a visit the reindeer at the stop light at M 18 and Federal Avenue. 4:00pm - 8:00pm Photo Booth Kid themed photo booth at Au Sable River Bakery. Sponsored by Shay's Place. 4:00pm - 8:00pm Petting Zoo with Small Animals at Gardiners Jewelry. Lake Street. 4:00pm - Sold Out Lions Club Hot Dogs at AuSable Bakery and Creamery. Pay with cash or canned good donation. All donations go toward local food pantries.

5:00pm Free Cider and Donuts in front of Office Impact Products. Sponsored by Don Nester Chevrolet 5:45pm Electric Light Parade Starts at Nester Chevrolet on N. 5th Street, proceeds to traffic light, right on Lake Street, ends at 1st Street. 6:30pm or so' Roscommon Village Christmas Tree Lighting on the CRAF Center Lawn. 6:45pm or so' Santa will be visiting children at his Santa house on the corner infront ot B C Pizza. Please bring your camera. Note: This is a list of anticipated events, but is subject to change due to weather conditions and other factors.

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December 2019 Page 9

SHOP LOCAL TODAY!

Page 10 December 2019

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GRID PLAYOFFS - Mio hosted a regional football game Nov. 8, falling 50-48 to Kingston, which scored a touchdown on the last play of the game. Above, despite the frigid weather, which dipped below the freezing mark prior to the start of the game, Thunderbolts fans turned out en masse for the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first regional game in several years. Below, Dallas Long tackles a Kingston running back. Photos by Ben Murphy

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December 2019 Page 11

Pictured above (l-r) are Oscoda County Sheriff Kevin Grace, U/S Ed Pokrzywnicki, Deputy Jake Hughes and Dispatcher Ryan Blair.

Sheriff without a shave

MIO - The Oscoda County Sheriff Department is hosting its annual "No shave November and December." Sheriff Kevin Grace said members of the department contribute $25 each to participate, and donate a small portion of their check each month to go toward public service projects in the community, and to assist other law enforcement agencies with emergencies. A portion of the money was used for the "Turkeys instead of tickets" program, where people are pulled over and given tickets. Grace wanted to thank Family Fare for helping procure the turkeys.

Deputy Joey Degrammont.

Deputy Pete Meyer

Page 12 December 2019

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GRAYLING CHRISTMAS WALK - Grayling celebrated its annual Christmas Walk downtown. At right, a tired Sully Mygrants lays his head on the shoulder of his father, Dan. Pictured at far right, Penny Podjaske-Pippo of "The Curator" store was excited about the Christmas Walk. Below right, Reindeer were located West of the light in Downtown Grayling. Below, two boys wait as family members drop tickets into the raffle buckets.

Photos by Tracy Constance

Merry Christmas from the staff at Up North Voice. Thank you for helping us cover Grayling and Crawford County!

UpNorthVoice.com

December 2019 Page 13

The future of Fairview Market By Richard Rensberry FAIRVIEW - Attitude is everything when it comes to challenges that test our wills. Some give up while others rise to greater heights. Some see disaster and choose victimhood, while others feel blessed for the opportunity to grow and excel. Daniel Swartzendruber is of the latter persuasion. To Dan, the past is only a measuring stick to the future, and the future of Fairview Food Market is looking brighter than ever despite the ravages from a couple of runaway semi-trucks. Whether the current goal to reopen in January of 2020 is met or not, Fairview Food Market’s opening is growing closer. We all know the trials and tribulations of the construction trades when dealing with

Page 14 December 2019

Pictured (l-r) are Trenton Rambo, Dan Swartzendruber and Jason Williams.

old buildings with hidden surprises. Patience will lead to greatness.

Many improvements such as fresh paint and new flooring are being realized even in the undamaged parts of the building, while the damaged section gets its bare bones surgically repaired. “Upon re-opening there will be minimal changes on where products were displayed in the past, but we will be looking as well to create the best possible store layout we can through the services of a store layout

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professional. The front section will remain as the produce section, but also include some new surprises I think everyone will get excited about,” Dan exuded with a twinkle in his eye. “We would like everyone to know,” he added. “We will not be processing hunter’s venison this season while we are closed. Please freeze your venison and we will be happy to process those orders when we re-open.” The what and whereabouts of the market’s employees is also probably on everyone’s mind. Dan wanted to assure folks that eight of his key employees have been taken care of and will return upon re-opening. Being well-insured played a huge role in retaining his trained help, as well as forwarding the scheduled construction toward completion. Dan has been fully engaged in the construction process thus far and is getting excited about being back to work. He thoroughly misses seeing and helping his friends and members of the Fairview community

At right, Chaysin Ledbetter, 9, shot his first buck, a 4-pointerin Gladwin County. He was hunting with his dad, Brian. Below, Bob Dikin (left) and Larry Fyan shot these bucks in the Beaver Creek area. Bob’s deer is an 8-point and Larry’s a 10-point.

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December 2019 Page 15

Page 16 December 2019

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Up North Voice

B section

Columns, Puzzles, and Schools

December 2019

Wreathes to be laid Dec. 4

Attending the event (l-r) from North Central Area Credit Union was Don Lingerfelt, and representing Northland Federal Credit Union was (middle) Jack Eling and Matthew Duhler.

MULTI CHAMBER MEETING – The chambers of commerce from Roscommon, Houghton Lake and Grayling held a combined business after hours at Forest Dunes. The event was sponsored by Northland Credit Union and North Central Area Credit Union. About 100 people turned out for the event.

~Photos by Mark Constance

Below: Pictured from Arauco (l-r) are Nathan Eshelman, Jennifer Hatfield and Jodie Sajdak.

ROSCOMMON —Roscommon Post #96 of The Michigan American Legion announced that Oakwood Cemetery (Lyon Township), Roscommon Village Cemetery, Gerrish Township Cemetery , Markey Township Cemetery and Pioneer Cemetery (South Branch Township) in Roscommon have once again joined in the mission to “Remember, Honor, Teach,” as an official location for 2019. This is the fourth year area cemeteries will participate in this national event. Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks that has grown into a national movement of dedicated volunteers and communities coming together to not only remember the nation’s fallen and honor their service, but to teach the next generation about the sacrifices made for Americans to live freely. This year, there will be nearly 2,000 participating locations placing wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 14, with more than two million volunteers coming together nationally.

The goal for Oakwood Cemetery (Lyon Township)is to place seventy five (75) veterans’ wreaths on the headstones of all the local heroes laid to rest there, to ensure that the individuals who served to protect the freedoms of our country never be forgotten and to bring the community together in patriotic commemoration. “We are forever grateful for the thousands of supporters who dedicate their time and effort to fulfilling the mission on a local level,” said Karen Worcester, executive director, Wreaths Across America. “These individuals and their communities know the value of remembering the fallen, honoring those who currently serve and teaching the next generation about the sacrifices made for our freedom every day, and without their continued support, Wreaths Across America would not exist.” Those interested in volunteering for Wreaths Across America, or sponsoring a wreath for any of the five cemeteries listed above, are invited to visit wreathsacrossamerica. org to learn more.

The day my toaster died! View From the Comfy Chair By Joel Vernier I reluctantly walked over to my “Comfy Chair" for my post-breakfast nap. I was feeling a little down, down, indeed unfortunate! For the first time in over ten years, I could not have toast with my eggs, our toaster quit working, no there was no airplane crash, that took out my toaster it just died. I tried the usual remedies, push the reset on the outlet, turn the toaster over and shake, try a different outlet on another circuit. Nope, the toaster had definitely passed on to an alternative existence. Today is the day my toaster died! And I sang Bye bye miss American pie, Drove my Chevy-Well I thought of singing it! Fixing appliances when I was growing up was no big deal, you would take it into the small appliance repair shop on the corner, or a short drive to town and get a ticket with a pick-up date on it, and sure enough when you went to retrieve it, it was fixed and at a minimal price. Back then, a new toaster would cost ten bucks, and you could fix it for $2.50. It would then work for another 10 years. But today alas, the appliance repair shops are gone along with most of the shoe repair shops, television repair shops. We live in a disposable society.

You cannot find a toaster for sale in my small town unless you luck out at a garage sale. I checked online and found that there are lots of toasters for purchase 50 or more, but none of them exceeded a 4-star rating. I read the reviews, and every one of them had one problem or the other: "Toasts unevenly, one side always burns, toasts with a pattern, won't take artesian bread," whatever that is. "Only toasts bagels on one side." "Sent it back three times till I got one that worked," sending it back once would have been enough for me. There are so many toasters on the market that I just cannot decide on which one to by. Then I remembered that in the basement where I keep the camping tent and supplies, even though we have not gone camping in the last 20 years, we kept our camping toaster. It was dented on one side, and the handle on the push-down lever was gone, but it did work. I brought it upstairs, dusted it off, and cleaned the crumb tray from our last camping excursion; the crumbs were a little stuck on the tray. I then plugged it in, used a potholder to put my toast down so I would not cut my finger in the exposed metal lever, and in a few moments, I had my toast. Life is good once again, so I wandered into the family room, settled into my "Comfy Chair" pulled up a throw blanked and when I was as "warm as toast" feel soundly asleep. “Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 9/30/2019 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” joelmvernier@aol.com .

Even a teenager can do it Home Country By Slim Randles It was a rare treat to have Vince come in the Mule Barn truck stop and join us for coffee. He’s usually too busy taking care of what we all know around the valley here as the “gas station gun shop.” Vince is one of those lucky guys who figured out how to scratch his passion itch while earning a living. The passion is guns and the living is pumping gas. Ever since he received a firearms license from the feds, it’s been more fun to fill up. He often has 12 gauge shells on sale, you see. “Yo Vince,” Steve said, “everything okay at the gas station gun shop?” Vince sipped coffee and shook his head. “I’ve found myself to be on the horns of a dilemma, guys. That’s why I came in here today. I need advice.” Someone actually asks for advice from those of us in the world dilemma think tank? Some of us have

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been waiting years to hear that. “What’s the problem, Vince?” asked Doc. “You know we always have advice for people whether they want it or not. All kinds of advice.” “It’s the computers, Doc,” said Vince. “They’ve got ‘em in all the newer cars now, and I don’t know how to fix them. I don’t even know how to tell when the darn things go on the fritz.” “Are you sure they’re plugged in?” asked Dewey. We figured that was about all Dewey knew about computers. “They’re in the car, Dewey,” said Doc. “Oh … yeah.” Steve doesn’t know much about them, either, but he’s real big on giving advice. “I think I have the answer to your problem, Vince,” Steve said. We all looked at the mustached seer of the sagebrush. “Yep,” Steve said, “I think what you need is to hire a teenager. That should take care of it.” We don’t even charge for this, you know. Brought to you by Ol’ Jimmy Dollar, an illustrated kids book about a houndman and his family of dogs. Available at www.riograndebooks.com.

Senior news: December 2019 Oscoda County Senior News By Merianne Tappan On behalf of the Board and staff of the Oscoda County Council on Aging we wish everyone a very merry Christmas!!! Here’s what’s going on in December: Monday Dec. 9 at the Senior Center we will hold our monthly Board meeting at 9:00 a.m. As always anyone interested is more than welcome to attend. Friday Dec. 13 we are having a small Christmas party at the Center. Santa and Jingles will be here and we will have cookies and stuff. Tuesday December 17th from 10-11:00 at the Center is the CSFP (senior cheese box) distribution. Saturday Dec. 21 is the first day of winter (although I’m pretty sure it started Oct. 31). And of course Dec. 25 is Christmas! The Center will close at 11 a.m. Monday Dec. 23 and will not open again until Jan. 2 for the holiday season. A lot of my seniors lately have been coming to me for financial help. Although we do not have funds to provide that kind of relief, I must say I can sympathize with them. It seems the only people not suffering

the financial pinch are people out in Hollywood. (I saw a picture of a mug the other day that said –“ I need one of those Kim Kardashian jobs where they pay me to exist”) So I thought I would focus on financial tricks this month. I thought maybe I should wait until the beginning of the year, but I will probably be focused on building a better body like the rest of humanity. One thing I do every month that really helps me is putting a small amount of my monthly income into a subaccount. The Credit Union is really good at setting up small subaccounts for you so you can practice this method – or just envelopes at home for cash works too if you have the self-control. Think of major yearly expenses such as Propane, Car Insurance and Christmas money that can be divided into monthly amounts. So, for example I know I would like $500 for Christmas. 500 12= 41.66 per month. So, now I know how much to put away for the rest of the year. By December I have $500 for Christmas and I am not panicking because I didn’t get a bonus! I do the same with my propane bill and my car insurance. (However I won’t tell you how much I have to put away because you will think I am very rich or you will cry.) So, you can either start right now or you can wait until the bill is due to figure out how much you will need to save. I like starting now – even though you may

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not have enough to cover the whole bill – you will have some and that is better than a sharp stick in the eye. Also the sooner you get into habit of putting a bit away the less painful it becomes. Another good thing about putting a bit away is if you do have an emergency – you can use that extra money. But nothing feels better than saying “Hey, I’ve got that much money – I would like to pay my

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insurance now please”. And let’s face it - $40/ month is a lot easier to swallow than $500 at once. Save save save – this will be easier than you think! Have a great Christmas and I will see you in 2020! Merianne Tappan is the Director/ Medicare Counselor of the Oscoda County Council on Aging. To contact her please call 989-826-3025.

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New approach to Iosco County river restoration HALE - In 2019 Huron Pines reached a major milestone in river restoration, surpassing 500 miles of stream connection. As Josh Leisen, Senior Project Manager explained, even though Huron Pines has decades of experience reconnecting rivers, every project is unique. “We approach each stretch of water with a fresh perspective so we can tailor a solution to fit the needs of the river, the wildlife and the community,” Leisen said. This year alone, Huron Pines removed barriers to reconnect over 50 miles across seven rivers and creeks. The projects included 2 dam removals, 6 culvert replacements and 1 project that used a new approach that involved placing boulders where Rollways Rd. meets the South Branch River in Iosco County. Sometimes in restoration work the fish barrier is an obvious physi-

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cal obstacle like a dam, but in many cases it’s something more subtle like the velocity of the water. For the South Branch River project, the culvert was technically large enough for fish to swim through, but it was too shallow, and the water was moving too quickly for them to successfully move upstream. Placing boulders in the water reduced the speed and increased the water depth within the existing culvert so fish could find places to rest while traveling upstream. The South Branch River project also had some special wildlife needs beyond improved fish passage. The land surrounding the river is home to the federally threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake. “We made sure all the materials used for erosion control were wildlife friendly and that the construction crew could identify and avoid harming rattlesnakes or their habitat,” Leisen said. The rattlesnake was considered in every aspect of project planning. The planning phase of river restoration projects is often the longest piece of the entire process for Huron Pines. Leisen added that, “From beginning to end, one road/stream crossing project takes years to plan and complete, even though the construction phase can often be finished within the span of a few hours to a couple of weeks.” Partners and funders make these projects possible and ensure the work is completed with the highest quality and care. Grants for the South Branch River project came from: US Forest Service; National Fish & Wildlife Foundation-Sustain Our Great Lakes; and Walters Family Foundation.

Huron Pines helped facilitate work where Rollways Road meets the South Branch in Iosco County.

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Hello! Where did fall go? In all my 93 years I haven’t seen a shorter fall season. And now – we seem to be in the midst of real winter. Don’t know about you – but the first snow brought about nine inches out here on the Manistee River. I’m just not quite ready – how about you? On the other hand – there’s not much we can do about it – as the old saying goes “time marches on.”. I was lucky enough to be with a group who were invited to take a tour out at the Arauco plant recently. This was in connection with the Chamber of Commerce. We were out there by 8 a.m.– were treated to coffee and doughnuts and then went on a supervised trip around their huge facility. We were all wearing safety gear – complete with hard hats, safety glasses and bright vests. Our hosts were wonderful. We went in small groups – each one with an Arauco employee to explain what we were seeing and what was going on at that point in the manufacturing process. They answered questions – and were generally very warm and gracious. I would urge anyone who has an opportunity to take a tour of the plant to do so. It was amazing!! Last Friday I went back to school. Northern Michigan College has a program they call Life Academy. The program I’ve been introduced to is twice each year. For a small fee ($35) you can sign up for three (3) classes – all the same day. They are all interesting – just take your choice. Two in the morning – a break for

GPA NEWS By Betty Bennett

lunch and one in the afternoon. I had my choice of three out of 45 classes that were offered. It was hard to decide. My choices this year involved Recycling, Saving our Great Lakes, and…Good Books! I went with three others and we all chose different classes. It was informative – and interesting and I – for one – learned a lot. Shows you even at 93 its never too late to learn. I hope my readers had a chance to go to the big Christmas Walk/Parade in downtown Grayling on Nov. 16. Anne Tuck (owner of The Sweet Life) and her committee worked very hard to make it bigger and better than ever. There were reindeer and ponies - a sleigh ride around town – the Lumberyard Shops had special treats and of course – Santa Claus came to Grayling early and set up shop in the Artisan Gallery. This is a Grayling tradition and if you missed it this year – mark your new 2020 Calendar and make it a point to find out when it’s happening next year!!! The Chamber Holiday After Hours will be Dec. 5 at the Artisan Village. This year’s theme is called “Flannel and Frost”. Either dig out your loudest plaid flannel shirt or go << Continued on Page 8

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Your Duck is Dead...

The Hand of God

Little Bobby was spending the weekend with his grandmother after a particularly trying week in kindergarten. His grandmother decided to take him to the park on Saturday morning. It had been snowing all night and everything was beautiful. His grandmother remarked..."doesn't it look like an artist painted this scenery? Did you know God painted this just for you?" Bobby said, "Yes, God did it and he did it left handed." This confused his grandmother a bit, and she asked him "What makes you say God did this with his left hand?" "Well," said Bobby, "we learned at Sunday School last week that Jesus sits on God's right hand!"

Ring Barer

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away." The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?" "Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet. "How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something." The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck." The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!" The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150.

A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle, he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd. While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar. So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle. As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."

Think you are having a bad day ?

A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm in two places. Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his Walkman.

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Still think you are having a bad day?

Fire authorities in California found a corpse in a burned-out section of forest while assessing the damage done by a forest fire. The deceased male was dressed in a full wet suit, complete with scuba tanks on his back, flippers, and face mask. A post-mortem test revealed that the man died not from burns, but from massive internal injuries. Dental records provided a positive identification. Investigators then set about to determine how a fully clothed diver ended up in the middle of a forest fire. It was revealed that on the day of the fire, the man went diving off the coast, some 20 miles from the forest. The fire fighters, seeking to control the fire as quickly as possible, had called in a fleet of helicopters with very large dip buckets. Water was dipped from the ocean and emptied at the site of the forest fire. You guessed it. One minute our diver was making like Flipper in the Pacific, the next, he was doing the breaststroke in a fire dip bucket 300 feet in the air. Some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed.

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Christmas hymns and opening day Toad's Stool

By Warren Stutesman Merry Christmas, finally December is here, and I can once again play my favorite music without everyone looking at me as if I am an escapee from the local crazy jail. Yes, Christmas Hymns are my favorite music, followed closely by regular hymns. For some reason lately I have been seeing a lot about women's suffrage on my Facebook timeline. A little-known fact is that one of my ancestors supported this right for women. In 1868 Enos Stutsman introduced a bill to give women the right to vote in the Dakota Territory; this is believed to be the first such bill introduced in the United States. It passed the House, but failed in the upper chamber, the Council. This bill failed by one vote. My birds are still coming even though the snow is covering all the seed. This is the first winter without a porch roof to protect them from the winter elements. I am hoping to be able to replace the roof next summer because I really like the extra protection for my friends. I have now added a Red-Bellied Woodpecker to my list of daily visitors. Friends that are slow to arrive this year are my friends the Gross Beaks, both rose-breasted and Evening, have yet to show their faces.

So, for those of you that went deer hunting and had to work hard at it and still didn't get one, I have a story for you. Dave Medlin is the son-inlaw of Don and Barbara Crawford, the former owners of the Rainbow Resort. Dave lives in South Carolina and has never hunted, anything ever. He was however very excited to try especially when Don got a small buck earlier bow hunting. Then Barb's brother, Dan, got a small buck, further fueling the fire he had to get out in the woods and bag his first deer. Dave even watched a video that taught you were to aim and shoot a deer so he would have a better idea. The cost of an out of state license makes it an expensive endeavor, but hey that tasty bit of venison is worth it right? At least Dave thought so. He missed our opening day, but on Saturday he was ready to go. So, Dave and Don go out and set in a blind together. Enjoying their company, they sat for about an hour and a half when Dave said, ‘Hey that's a deer right there in front of us.’ He scopes it and says it’s a buck to which Don responds, well then you better shoot it quick, he won't stand there all day. So, after a whole hour and a half, Dave bags a very nice seven-point buck. What a way to start your career in whitetail hunting. Congratulations Dave on a fine hunt. I hope that all of you hunters out there had a good time enjoying our wonderful woods this season. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year. - Warren Stutsman can be reached at warren@UpNorthVoice.com.

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GPA News continued ­­­ shopping and find one and wear it to this event. Personally, I wouldn’t miss it. Always a fun night And finally – while you are walking around downtown Grayling be sure and visit our newest shop. THE CURATOR. You will be welcomed by owner Penny Podjaske. Penny must have searched far and wide to find the wonderful selection of interesting, different, fun – and some never seen before items. In closing I just had a thought – on the south side of Michigan Avenue – starting with Ron’s Fly Shop – you can just wander all the way to the corner and keep shopping. We have Flowers by Josie/Thanks

Roscommon graduate Dennis Wagner of Harbor Springs took this 10point on opening day.

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a Latte, Tip of the Mitten, the Main Branch Gallery, and the Curator. That’s an exceptional group of shops all in a row. Then of course, you continue down Michigan Avenue – turn west on Norway until you come to the Lumberyard Shops. You could spend a lot of time and see some amazing things – and that’s only one side of the street! The other side has lots to eat and drink plus the Artisan Gallery. Its a pretty good place to spend some time and thought around Christmas – and then treat yourself to some good food and perhaps the libation of your choice.

COMMUNITY SINGERS - Northern Blend Chorus performed on Nov. 9 at the Free Methodist Church in West Branch. The Chorus is a group of women from multiple towns who gather at Logan Township Hall to sing most Thursday nights. If you are interested in joining please contact Sandy Williams 989-7393931, Ellen Pugh 989-345-0978, or Joan Beck 989-798-2934.

Roscommon, regional police units offer winter property checks REGION – One of the great things about living in a small town is the feeling that your friends and neighbors are watching out for you. And the sheriff in each county assist with virtually identical “general welfare” and property checks. The Roscommon County Sheriff Department has been offering property checks across the county for more than 10 years. Sheriff Ed Stern noted in the past that officers have a standard procedure for checking the homes once or twice per week. If officers find an issue, they will contact the homeowner. “We usually check once per week, maybe twice, but we will do as many as we get. (Officers) get out, walk around the house and if they find issues, contact the homeowner,” he said. Roscommon also implemented a “well-being check program” designed for anyone lacking a local support system, such as friends or relatives, to check their well-being. Friends or family members can decide for a deputy to stop and check

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the status and well-being of those who are alone. Deputies will be able to not only talk with those signed up for the service but will also assist the resident and refer them to other services that can help meet their needs. For information on general welfare or property checks across the Up-North Voice coverage area call:

Roscommon County

112 S. Second Street, Roscommon, MI 4853 sheriff@roscommoncounty.net Wellness: 989-275-5101 (officer dispatched immediately) Property Check: 989-275-5101 (Pick up form at department)

Crawford County

Sheriff Shawn Kraycs 200 West Michigan Ave., Grayling Wellness: 989-348-6341 (Dispatch officer immediately) Property Check: Property Check: (Form required, stop into department). << See CONTACT on Page 3

Contact info << Continued from Page 2

Ogemaw County

Sheriff Howie Hanft 806 W Wright St, West Branch, MI 48661 989-345-3111 (Pick up at Central Dispatch)

Oscoda County

Sheriff Kevin Grace 301 S Morenci Ave, Mio, MI 48647 989-826-3214 (Pick up at Central Dispatch).

Grayling hosts chili cookoff

Iosco County

Sheriff Allan MacGregor 428 W. Lake Street Tawas City, Michigan 48763 (989) 362-6164 (Stop by sheriff department and fill out form)

Montmorency County

Sheriff Chad Brown 11045 M-32 West Atlanta, MI 49709 989-785-4238 (Stop by department for form).

Your concept Our expertise 989-275-1170

GRAYLING - The First Annual Chili Cook Off, a fundraiser for Riverhouse Shelter was held Nov. 14 at Rolling Oak Brewery in Grayling. There were 21 entrants in the event, which was judged by Mayor Heather Forbes, Sheriff Shawn Kraycs, Fire Inspector Mike Arwood and Celebrity Judge Rizzo from 106 KHQ. Award winners included:

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Judges selection – 1. Alma Mandoza, Green Chicken Chili (Chili name); 2. Tip'n The Mitten (Stacy McIsaac), The Trifecta (chili name); 3. Justin Plunket. Community selection 1. Rene; 2. Alma Mandoza; Community Champion (Traveling Trophy) – 1. Crawford County Commission on Aging. Photo by Stacy McIsaac

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At left, Roscommon graduate Kennedy Carpenter shot her first deer with a crossbow Nov. 15 about 5:30 p.m. The 8-point, 130-pound deer with a 12.5-inch spread was taken near West Branch.

At right, Dennis Koopikka Jr. took this buck in the St. Helen area.

Cookie sale Dec. 7 ROSCOMMON - The Roscommon Area Historical will hold its Annual Cookie Sale starting at 10 a.m. Sat., Dec.7 during the Christmas in the Village celebration. The society will serve free steaming hot wassail and cookies to visitors who stop in to tour the beautifully decorated Gallimore Boarding House and the Richardson School House Museum. Also visit the unique gift shop for great vintage Christmas gifts. Please stop by and support your local historical society at 404 Lake Street in Roscommon.

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HALE NETTERS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Hale High School volleyball team won a Division 4 district volleyball title with a 16-25, 25-9, 25-8 and 25-16 over AuGres Nov. 14. It was the Eagles first district title since 2017. The team ran into a buzz saw in the regional semi-final in Bear Lake, falling to Traverse City Christian 3-0. Above, the Eagles faithful watches the match. At bottom, left, Jori McKulsky sets the ball as the Eagles rolled over AuGres, dropping the first game, but winning the next three; Bottom right, Kiara Ludwig prepares to serve in the district finals against AuGres. Photos by Ben Murphy

SNOW BUCK - Flash Marsh of Mio shot this buck on Nov. 16.

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Make money off your timber HARRISVILLE - The Alcona Conservation District is hosting a Timber Tax Workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 5-7 p.m. at the Alcona Natural Resource Field Office, located at 320 S. State Street (US 23) in Harrisville. Susan Metcalfe, of Metcalfe Forestry, will lead the workshop and cover capital gain treatment of timber harvest, cost basis of timber, timber depletion allowance, proper tax record keeping, and forest property tax abatement programs. She is a registered forester, certified timber tax consultant, and co-owner of Metcalfe Forestry of Grayling. The workshop helps forest property owners understand and optimize the tax treatment of timber harvest income, forest management costs, and property tax relief. The program is free and open to the public. For more information call the Alcona Conservation District at 989-724-5272 or visit www.alconaconservation.org.

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Send your photos, announcements and club events to: info@UpNorthVoice.com

WINE TASTING - The Mio Community Center hosting the Oscoda County Chamber of Commerce 2019 Fall wine tasting. More than 100 people attended, which featured, a vast array of food and wine samples. Pictured above: The librarian portion of Mio schools are (l-r) Jackie Graff, Sue Bratton, Susan Avery and Lisa Ehlert; Right, Organizers Ann and Tom Galbraith; Below, Tom Trimmer (center)and his friends. - Photos by Mark Constance

ROSCOMMON CHEER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Roscommon High School awarded varsity letters in volleyball include (l-r) Melanie Smith, Kylee Pratt, Maddie McPherson, Alisha Photo courtesy of Jacqueline Hasting Pratt and Olivia Fisher.

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