http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/ en Copyright 2008 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:31:09 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss new study of Michigan’s energy economy shows 70 cents of every dollar spent on fuel leaves the state. That’s according to a report done by the Michigan Public Service Commission. It says Michigan spent 26 billion dollars importing fuel last year. Michigan imports all its coal and nearly all its petroleum. Natural gas is the only source of fuel produced in a significant quantity here. Gas wells in northern lower Michigan produce about one-fifth of the state’s demand for natural gas. Oil production peaked in Michigan in 1979 at about 35 million barrels a day. Now it’s less than six million. ]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/09/imported_energy.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/09/imported_energy.html Economy Energy Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:31:09 +0000 memorial ride is scheduled for him next Friday starting at 6 pm in Darrow Park in Traverse City. ]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/cyclist_not_in_the_way_of_traf.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/cyclist_not_in_the_way_of_traf.html Development Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:15:32 +0000 new survey done by The Grand Vision found residents of Grand Traverse County and neighboring counties believe they have it good and expect things to remain that way. The researcher says he rarely finds people so upbeat about the place they live. Dee Allsop says for a rural community residents are very aware of growth issues and surprisingly open to tools for preventing sprawl.]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/survey_grand_traverse_resident.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/survey_grand_traverse_resident.html Development Economy Energy Environment Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:21:18 +0000 Main Street America. The DNR wants assurance financing is in place before it sells. When asked what would happen if Axiom found investors in...say... eight months, a spokeswoman for the DNR, Mary Detloff, said even six months and one week would be too late. She pointed out the DNR has been negotiating with Axiom for years. Instead of information about investors, Axiom gave the DNR a marketing plan the department didn't request. Officials in Grayling Township continue to support the proposed theme park. Some legislators are also pressuring the DNR to sell the land. ]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/main_street_america_sputters.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/main_street_america_sputters.html Development Development Development Development Economy Environment Environment Environment Environment Tourism Tourism Tourism Tourism Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:33:41 +0000 told the Ludington Daily News it’s ironic a library would fire her for writing a book since public libraries are considered pillars of free speech. The Library Diaries is a collection of unflattering portraits of library patrons in a fictitious town in Michigan. But the director of the library in Ludington told Stern-Hamilton it was easy to figure out who she was talking about. In a letter notifying her of her suspension, Robert Dickson said characters in her stories were portrayed as mentally ill, dumb and unattractive and several were labeled perverts. Stern-Hamilton says the stories were based on her experiences but are fictitious. The 15-year employee of the library is appealing her dismissal but apparently is having a hard time finding an attorney to help her with a civil suit. ]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/ludington_librarian_fired.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/ludington_librarian_fired.html Arts & Humanities Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:38:35 +0000 court last week. The GTB Election Board sent out an email to hundreds of voters criticizing Bailey for viewing his campaign website with a government computer. Bailey had been accused of violating election rules, but he didn’t know about the charge and wasn’t invited to defend himself. The email about the charges went out to every tribal employee the day before the election. Bailey says he was slandered and the vote was affected. The court says Bailey did not clearly prove the actions of the board caused him to lose the race to incumbent Tribal Chairman Robert Keywaygoshkum. In fact, during the trial none of the witnesses said they had actually changed their vote because of the email. But the court says the board’s actions violated Bailey’s constitutional right to due process and were so egregious the only remedy is a special election. The attorney for the board says the board disagrees with the opinion but will meet soon to schedule a new election. Throughout the proceedings, Bailey has posted many of the court documents on his campaign website. ]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/tribal_election_results_tossed.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/08/tribal_election_results_tossed.html Native Politics Politics Politics Politics Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:18:26 +0000 a probe into Remington Financial Group’s business deals in Pennsylvania and California. The developers of Mainstreet America are trying to convince the Michigan DNR to sell 1800 acres of state land near Grayling. The DNR has asked to see proof that the developers have investors lined up to fund a new park. For help lining up investors, Mainstreet America has enlisted Remington. The financial group claims to be experienced at finding investment for complex real estate projects that cost over 100 million dollars. But allegations have surfaced that Remington has a practice of charging up-front fees without any intention of searching for funds. The chairman of Remington denies any wrongdoing. A spokeswoman for Mainstreet America, Susan Haddad, says the report in the Wall Street Journal contains inaccuracies. And she says Remington is just one group involved in the proposed Theme Park. DNR Official Mindy Koch says Remington is the only financial services group her department has met with regarding the land sale. ]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/07/mainstree_america_says_remingt.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/07/mainstree_america_says_remingt.html Economy Environment Environment Environment Tourism Tourism Tourism Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:45:38 +0000 Read the report. ]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/06/public_defender_report_critica.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/06/public_defender_report_critica.html Criminal Justice Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:54:27 +0000 The Election Board for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians says it didn’t slander a candidate for the Tribe’s highest office. The board says the informal hearing held to review complaints against Derek Bailey was a reasonable way to resolve an election dispute. It says the hearing varied from election regulations but did not violate them. Bailey has sued in Tribal Court. He says the Election Board rushed through an illegal hearing over charges that he used his work computer to view his campaign website. In a court filing, the board admits Bailey was not notified of the complaint against him and was not invited to defend himself. The board decided Bailey did use his government computer inappropriately but that it wasn’t clear his actions amounted to campaign violations. The opinion went out in an email to everyone who works for the Grand Traverse Band the day before the election last month. The next day, Bailey lost a tight race to incumbent Tribal Chair Robert Kewaygoshkum. The Elections Board says the email wasn’t slander because Bailey did use his government computer to view his website more than 100 times and because the opinion suggested he didn't violate campaign laws. The vote has not been certified because of this and other challenges. http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/06/gtb_election_board_defends_act.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/06/gtb_election_board_defends_act.html Native Native Native Native Native Politics Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:41:03 +0000 May 16, 2008 Traverse City Light & Power announced today it now has a real estate option which may lead to new windmills in Charlevoix County. The deal is pending final zoning approval from Norwood Township, and the utility still needs to study whether the site would generate enough wind. The 400-acre parcel is a rock quarry, zoned industrial. The utility is planning public meetings about the proposed windmills. Construction wouldn’t start for another three years. http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/tclp_wants_wind_in_charlevoix.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/tclp_wants_wind_in_charlevoix.html Energy Fri, 16 May 2008 23:40:24 +0000 May 16, 2008 The state Court of Appeals this week ruled a Glen Arbor condominium association can continue to allow its residents joint access to Lake Michigan. Oak Hollow Condominiums are not on lake front property, but together the owners have a hundred feet of shared frontage on Lake Michigan – zoned residential. Adjacent waterfront homeowners sued back in 2005, asking the courts to say the beach front could not be used by multiple families for swimming, picnicking, and kayaking. It’s a property use sometimes called key-holing. The lakefront neighbors don’t like the foot traffic down to the lake, and they argue their property values could drop. But the courts have ruled, Glen Arbor residential zoning allows this type of use. http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/court_condo_group_in_glen_arbo.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/court_condo_group_in_glen_arbo.html Development Fri, 16 May 2008 23:38:41 +0000 May 16th, 2008 State Attorney General Mike Cox has ramped up efforts to identify people who steal money from the elderly. His office says the crime is on the rise – and that 99 percent of cases go unreported. But – even as the AG targets elder abuse – the state has cut back on social workers in Northern Michigan that help victims, according to Mary Marois. She retired recently as head of the state Department of Human Services offices in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. She says five years ago, there were six social workers who handled cases of elder abuse in the area. Now there’s just two. She says social workers often refer cases to law enforcement for criminal investigation, and their main job is to make sure the victim is okay. Attorney General Mike Cox is now identifying potential victims by searching nursing homes for people with bills past due. Thursday he announced charges against a dozen people he believes have stolen money from an elderly family member. Three cases are in Northwest Michigan – in Cadillac, Mackinaw City, and Wolverine. More cases are under investigation. http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/stealing_from_seniors_on_the_r.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/stealing_from_seniors_on_the_r.html Criminal Justice Fri, 16 May 2008 23:33:31 +0000 Feature report]]> http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/corporation_fined_ag_will_not.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/corporation_fined_ag_will_not.html Business Business Business Criminal Justice Development Development Development Fri, 16 May 2008 23:24:37 +0000 May 5th, 2008 State Representative Kevin Elsenheimer has decided NOT to run for the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Bellaire lawmaker announced his bid earlier this year, but after discussing the roster of candidates with Republican Party leaders, he has stepped aside. Elsenheimer's expected to announce soon whether he’ll now seek re-election for his House seat in the 105th District. http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/elsenheimer_pulls_out_of_court.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/elsenheimer_pulls_out_of_court.html Politics Tue, 06 May 2008 14:40:20 +0000 May 2nd, 2008 A private prison in Lake County shuttered in 2005 may re-open – bringing back jobs to a region that has struggled with high unemployment even in better economic times. The Florida-based company The GEO Group owns the building. It was originally built back when Engler was Governor to house maximum security youth prisoners in Michigan. It was closed in budget cuts under Governor Granholm. The company announced plans this week to invest $60 million dollars to expand the facility to more than triple its current size. The company plans to offer prison beds to federal and state agencies all over the country. Lake County lost more than 200 jobs when the prison closed almost three years ago. http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/company_to_invest_in_baldwin_p.html http://www.interlochen.org/iprblog/2008/05/company_to_invest_in_baldwin_p.html Development Economy Politics Fri, 02 May 2008 23:18:48 +0000