WinterFest 2024
Locally Owned & Operated
Free
F E B . 1 6 T H & 17 T H
▪ See pages 13-16 for schedule!
Up North
Voice Vol. 15, Issue 2
.com
Read us online at UpNorthVoice.com!
IN THIS ISSUE:
Fairview Eagle Voice 3-5 Detroit Lions Fans 10 West Branch Pets & Pretzels 12 Winterfest 13-16 TUT 20-21 Grayling cadets 23 Huron Pines winter walk 26 Waltzing through Hale 27
BELIEVE IN MAGIC- This year’s Tip Up Town did not disappoint. Even though we missed the ice events, and the parade had a slightly different route, it didn’t stop the crowd from visiting. Pictured (l-r) Mallory Daugherty, Julien Brinkman, Giovanni Brinkman (back), and Sebastian Brinkman enjoying the cold and the fun during the festival.
February 2024
Winter wonderland events near you
HALE- This year’s Long Lake Ice Jam will be Sat., Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. behind the Long Lake Bar. There will be a side x side parade, fishing derby, open skating, drop-in hockey, and the infamous polar plunge. Find them on Facebook for more events and information! ROSCOMMON- If you are in the Higgins Lake area, don’t miss Winterfest Feb. 16 and 17 at the Lyons Township Hall and Park 27. This year, they are adding a Dog Parade and a Cornhole Tournament to the festivities. See pages 13-16 for more information or visit them on Facebook. ▪ See WINTER EVENTS on page 2
'Forward facing and future focused' RARA’s plans for Metro Park By Donna Thoma ROSCOMMON-Nestled within the forests, rivers, and larger inland lakes of northern Michigan, Roscommon and Roscommon County are year-round tourist destinations. Many “locals” vacationed in the area prior to permanently making their home here. Whether it be trails for hiking and skiing; snowmobile trails; area parks; rivers and streams for fishing, kayaking, or canoeing; or lakes for all seasons of water recreation, care and maintenance of those environments is crucial. One might think it all falls under
the care, custody, and control of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It is true that many aspects of those recreational areas fall under the supervision of the DNR. Locally, the grooming, maintenance, and general care of some trails and parks, are the responsibility of the Roscommon Area Recreation Authority (RARA). What is RARA? RARA is an integral part of the Roscommon Community. Originally formed in 1969 as the Roscommon Metropolitan Recreation Authority (RMRA), under the Village of Roscommon and Higgins Township, it was reorganized in late
Jory Klumpp, Recreation Director for RARA
2019, to better incorporate the current demographic area. Under the authority of RARA, are the CRAF Center, Roscommon Metro Park, Marguerite Gahagan
Nature Preserve, AuSable River Center, maintenance and grooming of the Tisdale Triangle, and the recent ▪ See METRO PARK PLANS on page 7