sleeping bear dunes

Federal budget cuts squeeze services at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:35:56 +0000

'The sequester' has generated a nervous buzz throughout the nation as we wait to see if the federal budget cuts will be a big deal.

For some agencies in Michigan, the cuts are already here.

Let's take a look at one of the state's most popular scenic tourist destinations - the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Last year, the Dunes had a record year with 1.53 million visitors.

Tom Ulrich is the Deputy Superintendent of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Though he wasn't told to furlough any of his year round employees, Ulrich was required to cut a lot of the seasonal employees that are crucial to park maintenance over the summer.

This morning's headlines: Detroit's finances, Flint State of the City, Sleeping Bear Dunes

Emily Fox — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:06:27 +0000

Report on Detroit's finances due today

"Governor Snyder is expected to receive a long-awaited report on Detroit’s financial situation today. It’s widely expected that the report will depict a city on the brink of insolvency—and suggest further state intervention," Sarah Cwiek reports.

Flint State of the City addresses violent crime

"Flint mayor Dayne Walling says his city must now make a transition to an era of "reconstruction" after a "generation of decline." Walling told the audience at his State of the City address yesterday that in order to begin that transition Flint must deal with its crime problem. Flint had the worst violent crime rate in the nation last year," Steve Carmody reports.

Sleeping Bear Dunes get $100,000

"The state Transportation Department has received $100,000 in federal funds to extend Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Heritage Trail by nearly five miles. The funding is part of $12.5 million for 29 projects in 20 states to improve access to national parks, forests and wildlife refuges," the Associated Press reports.

$100K in federal funds to extend Heritage Trail

The Associated Press — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:11:04 +0000

GLEN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - The state Transportation Department has received $100,000 in federal funds to extend Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Heritage Trail by nearly five miles.

The funding is part of $12.5 million for 29 projects in 20 states to improve access to national parks, forests and wildlife refuges.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the projects Monday.

Sleeping Bear Dunes could gain special protection

The Associated Press — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:28:21 +0000

EMPIRE, Mich. (AP) - Nearly half of Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore would be preserved as wilderness under legislation awaiting a possible vote in the U.S. House in the last days of the 112th Congress.

The wilderness tag would be given to more than 32,000 undeveloped acres in the scenic lakeshore in northwestern lower Michigan. It's the highest level of conservation protection for federal lands.

Developed roads, boat launches and historical structures wouldn't receive the wilderness designation - so people could still hunt, fish, hike and camp there.

Emerald ash borer hits Sleeping Bear Dunes

Kyle Norris — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:31:04 +0000

An invasive insect may wipe out the ash trees at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The emerald ash borer has infested up to 90 percent of the ash trees on the lakeshore's mainland in the northwestern Lower Peninsula. The first case was discovered in June and the tree-killing pest has spread quickly.

Lakeshore officials are considering their options to try to control the ash borer, but things look bleak.

Sleeping Bear Dunes voted "most beautiful place in America"

Mark Brush — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:05:29 +0000

This morning, ABC's Good Morning America revealed the winner of their "Most Beautiful Place in America" contest.

For reasons we all know, Sleeping Bear Dunes won.

You can see the video on ABC's website.

Here are the places Sleeping Bear Dunes finished ahead of:

Newport, R.I.
Cape Cod, Mass.
Point Reyes, Calif.
Aspen, Colo.
Sedona, Ariz
Destin, Fla.
Asheville, N.C.
Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
and Grand Teton National Park, Wyo

ABC says Jim Madole of Grand Rapids nominated Sleeping Bear Dunes saying:

"It is peaceful and serene, a place for gazing out into the world, night or day, and realizing that the universe is truly a magical, majestic mystery, and humans are just a very small part of it all," he wrote in his submission. "Here at Sleeping Bear, I sit in awe and wonder at the perfection of Mother Nature."

Federal government selling property in Michigan

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:07:09 +0000

The federal government wants to make money selling real estate. The government has released an interactive map of about 12 thousand federal “excess” properties, including 55 in Michigan.

The government says most of these properties have little market value. But, President Obama wants legislation to increase the number of properties and the speed of sales. He wants the government to use a process similar to that used to decommission old military bases.