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Wireless Service Coming To Hancock Campground—May 17, 2012
The tent…sleeping bag…marshmallows…and the wireless laptop computer for streaming movies—all items you might include on your next trip to the Hancock Campground.
The city will start providing wireless internet service to guests at the campground free of charge.
Councilman Ted Belej says the service is something campers will enjoy.
Pastynet will be providing the signal and the city is purchasing the equipment for 9$85.
There is also a $79 a month fee provided by the city as well.
Techo-reliant campers should be able to start enjoying the extra by Memorial Day.
Hancock Parking Meters Could Be History—May 17, 2012
The days of parking meters in the city of Hancock could be numbered.
The city council discussed eliminating the 91 downtown parking meters at their regular monthly meeting.
City Manager Glenn Anderson said this idea has been in the works for a while.
The city of Houghton removed their parking meters a few years ago and Anderson said that move has weighed heavily on the minds of Hancock’s leadership since.
Hancock will lose some revenue from the parking meters but Anderson notes that this move will actually save the city money.
A public hearing will be held at the next meeting and afterwards the council will decide on the issue.
Hancock Water/Sewer Project Update—May 17, 2012
It’s a work in progress but it’s coming along well.
That sums up the update of the Hancock water and sewer project that City Manager Glenn Anderson gave to the rest of the council.
About half of the underground construction work of the water project is complete.
Two crews have been digging in the city for the better part of a month.
Several streets in the northwestern part of the city are substantially done and new work has begun this week on other streets.
More work will continue on streets in the central and canal area of the city into July.
Anderson the good news is that some of the streets should be paved by Memorial Day.
On the sewer project…
Manhole work is in progress and smoke testing was completed.
The storm sewer reconstruction in the Elevation and Pine street area should be complete by the end of next week and paving is expected on May 29th.
You can see the complete report by City Manager Glenn Anderson on our Keweenaw Report Facebook Page.
Lowest Unemployment In Four Years—May 17, 2012
MICHIGAN’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN APRIL FELL TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN NEARLY FOUR YEARS.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET, THE JOBLESS RATE LAST MONTH EDGED DOWNWARD BY TWO-TENTHS OF A PERCENTAGE POINT TO 8.3%.
THE APRIL RATE WAS THE LOWEST FOR THE STATE SINCE THE 8.2% RATE RECORDED IN JULY 2008.
THE AGENCY SAYS TOTAL EMPLOYMENT ROSE BY 11,000 IN APRIL, AS THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED DECREASED BY 8,000. THE STATE’S WORKFORCE INCREASED BY 3,000 OVER THE MONTH.
THE MICHIGAN JOBLESS RATE IN APRIL WAS OVER TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW THE STATE’S APRIL 2011 RATE OF 10.5%.
THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE LAST MONTH WAS 8.1%.
Revenue Estimate Agreement Reached—May 17, 2012
TOP STATE REVENUE AND BUDGET EXPERTS HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT ON REVENUE ESTIMATES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS AS WELL.
THEY REPORT THAT STATE GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS PROJECTED AT JUST OVER $9 BILLION, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN WHAT WAS EXPECTED IN AN EARLIER ANALYSIS.
THE SCHOOL AID FUND IS AT JUST UNDER $11 BILLION, UP $113 MILLION FROM THE JANUARY ESTIMATE.
IN THE MEANTIME, GENERAL FUND REVENUE FOR 2013 IS EXPECTED TO BE $65 MILLION BELOW THE JANUARY ESTIMATES, AND THE SCHOOL AID FUND IS EXPECTED TO BY UP BY $115 MILLION FOR THAT YEAR.
SO FAR AS 2014 IS CONCERNED, GENERAL FUND REVENUE IS EXPECTED TO BE SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN THIS YEAR, AS WILL THE SCHOOL AID FUND.
STATE TREASURER ANDY DILLON SAYS THE IMPROVEMENT IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT OCCURRED IN MICHIGAN IN 2011 HAS CARRIED OVER TO 2012, LEADING TO INCREASED TAX COLLECTIONS.
HOWEVER DILLON AND THE ECONOMISTS ON HAND AT THE REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY ALSO NOTE THAT THERE ARE RISKS WITH THEIR PREDICTIONS FOR THE COMING YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE DEBT CRISIS IN EUROPE, THE NATIONAL DEBT AND OIL AND GAS PRICES.
Snyder At Full Salary—May 17, 2012
GOVERNOR RICK SNYDER HAS RETURNED TO FULL SALARY, AFTER TAKING ONLY ONE DOLLAR IN HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE.
HOWEVER THE GOVERNOR TOLD REPORTERS WEDNESDAY THAT WHILE HE’S TAKING HIS FULL SALARY, SOME OF IT WILL GO TO CHARITY.
GOVERNOR SNYDER SAYS A ONE DOLLAR SALARY WAS APPROPRIATE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET DEFICIT.
BUT SINCE THAT HAS BEEN ERASED HE’S BACK TO HIS $159,000 PER YEAR SALARY.
Consumer Confidence Rising—May 17, 2012
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING IN MICHIGAN, ACCORDING TO A STUDY RELEASED BY A MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST ON WEDNESDAY.
THE POLL, CONDUCTED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND SOCIAL RESEARCH AT MSU, FOUND THAT WHEN ASKED TO RANK THEIR ECONOMIC CONDITION, 54.1% OF RESPONDENTS SAID IT WAS GOOD OR EXCELLENT, WHILE 29.2% RATED IT AS FAIR, 10.1% SAID IT WAS NOT SO GOOD AND 6.6% SAID IT WAS POOR.
THAT’S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM THE A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN FALL 2011, WHEN ONLY 46.2% RATED THEIR ECONOMIC SITUATION AS EITHER EXCELLENT OR GOOD.
THIS RECENT SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT 37.1% OF THOSE ASKED SAID THEY WERE BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY NOW THAN THEY WERE A YEAR BEFORE, WHILE 35.7% THOUGHT THEY WERE WORSE OFF.
61.1% OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF IN A YEAR.
THE SURVEY OF 963 PEOPLE WAS CONDUCTED FROM FEBRUARY 14 TO APRIL 15. IT HAD A MARGIN OF ERROR OF PLUS OR MINUS 3.6 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
Parking Ticket Laws Tougher—May 17, 2012
MICHIGAN’S PARKING TICKET LAW IS NOW TWICE AS TOUGH.
THOSE WITH MORE THAN THREE UNPAID PARKING TICKETS ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO RENEW THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSE.
THE PREVIOUS LAW ALLOWED UP TO SIX UNPAID TICKETS BEFORE A DRIVER’S LICENSE WAS AFFECTED.
THE LAW IS DESIGNED TO FORCE MOTORISTS TO PAY UP.
REVENUE FROM THE TICKETS GOES TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
THE NEW LAW TOOK EFFECT WEDNESDAY.
Bills Reduce Taxes On Cars/Boats—May 17, 2012
THE STATE SENATE HAS APPROVED A BILL THAT SHOULD REDUCE THE COST OF BUYING A CAR IN MICHIGAN AND TRADING IN YOUR OLD ONE.
THE MEASURE REQUIRES THAT THE SALES TAX ON THE PURCHASE BE BASED NOT ON THE FULL PRICE OF THE CAR, BUT INSTEAD THE FULL PRICE MINUS THE VALUE OF THE TRADE IN.
SOME CALL THIS THE “SALES TAX ON THE DIFFERENCE” LEGISLATION.
FOR YEARS LAWMAKERS HAVE CONSIDERED THE BILL, BUT WITHOUT APPROVING IT, EVEN THOUGH CAR BUYERS HAVE ALWAYS CALLED THIS “UNFAIR, DOUBLE TAXATION” SINCE THEY ALREADY PAID THE SALES TAX ON THE EXISTING CAR.
THE TWO BILL PACKAGE DOES NOT TAKE FULL EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. INSTEAD, IT’S PHASED IN OVER SIX YEARS, STARTING WITH AN EXEMPTION UP TO $2,500, UNTIL IT IS UNCAPPED BY 2017.
THE LEGISLATION, WHICH NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE, ALSO AFFECTS WATERCRAFT IN MICHIGAN.
Law Makes It Easier To Get Tax Exemptions—May 17, 2012
GOVERNOR SNYDER SIGNED LEGISLATION AIMED AT SIMPLIFYING THE PROCESS FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR A POVERTY TAX EXEMPTION ON THEIR HOMES.
THE BILL MAKES IT EASIER TO APPLY FOR THE EXEMPTION BY ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT INSTEAD OF PROVIDING FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT THIS EXEMPTION HAS TO BE EASILY AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES NEEDING THE ASSISTANCE. HE SAYS, ”LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO FILE STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES SHOULD NOT NEED THOSE DOCUMENTS TO RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION.”
Escanaba Teen Guilty Of Animal Torture—May 17, 2012
A THIRD ESCANABA TEENAGER CONVICTED OF TORTURING CATTLE AT A MENOMINEE COUNTY FARM LAST SUMMER HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 18 TO 48 MONTHS IN PRISON.
17-YEAR OLD CHAD MEIER JR. PLEADED GUILTY IN FEBRUARY TO THREE COUNTS OF AIDING AND ABETTING IN THE KILLING/TORTURING OF AN ANIMAL.
THE TEENS WERE ARRESTED AFTER TWO COWS AND A BULL WERE FOUND BEATEN ON A FARM IN HARRIS TOWNSHIP NEAR WILSON IN JULY.
SHERIFF DEPUTIES SAY THE ANIMALS WERE PLACED INTO A STANCHION CHUTE, “IMPALED” WITH A STEEL BAR AND BEATEN WITH OTHER IMPLEMENTS SUCH AS A SHOVEL.
MEIER WAS 16 AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND ORIGINALLY CHARGED AS A JUVENILE. HIS STATUS WAS LATER WAIVED AND HE WAS TO BE TRIED AS AN ADULT.
MEIER’S CO-DEFENDANTS, 18-YEAR OLDS NICHOLAS LEISNER AND PETER SAUVE, PLEADED GUILTY TO THE SAME CHARGES AND ARE EACH SERVING TO TWO TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON.
Another Arrest In U.P. Bomb Threats—May 17, 2012
MENOMINEE COUNTY AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED THREE PEOPLE IN SEPARATE BOMB THREATS MADE AT AREA SCHOOLS.
THE MOST RECENT ARREST WAS A 17-YEAR OLD FEMALE IN AN INCIDENT AT THE MENOMINEE HIGH SCHOOL.
ALL THREE COULD FACE TERRORISM CHARGES AND FOUR YEARS IN PRISON.
Keweenaw Cougar Has Company—May 16, 2012
It’s not Trekker…but the Keweenaw Cougar is apparently not alone.
Another cougar has been spotted and photographed near Skanee in Baraga County.
A picture was snapped by Fred Nault who took the photo on May 8th near Ravine River Road just before dusk.
This cougar is without the identifying radio collar that the cougar spotted several times in the Keweenaw area was known to be wearing.
The photo is available on our Keweenaw Report Facebook page.
Officials from the DNR will be visiting Nault today to confirm the sighting.
Bridgewalk This Afternoon—May 16, 2012
The Copper Country Great Start Collaborative Bridge Walk steps off this afternoon.
Registration begins at the Ramada Inn in Hancock at 5:30 and the walk starts at 6pm.
Participants will cross the Portage Lift Bridge and end near Chutes and Ladders at the Kestner Waterfront Park in Houghton.
Great Start Collaborative Director Shelly Smith says the Bridge Walk brings attention to the importance of an early childhood education.
At the park…there will be family-friendly activities and free ice cream.
The Red Jacket Trolley will bring folks back to the Ramada when it is all over.
People are asked to wear yellow, blue, or green to show support for early childhood education in the Copper Country.
All of the activities are free and the public is welcome to attend.
Public Meeting Scheduled For Houghton County Master Plan—May 16, 2012
The Houghton County Master Plan is almost complete.
Commissioner Anton Pintar gave an update to the Board at their regular monthly meeting.
Pintar said a presentation on the plan was given to business leaders at the Eggs and Issues meeting sponsored by the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce.
Changes were also made to changes to the section dealing with winter issues to strike a balance between positive and negative aspects.
A Public Hearing is scheduled for June 19th and the Planning Commission expects to adopt the 2012 Amended Houghton County Master Plan afterward.
The Plan would then be presented to the Board of Commissioners at their July meeting.
Recreational Authority In Early Stages—May 16, 2012
The first steps toward creating a Recreational Authority for Houghton and Keweenaw Counties are underway.
The County Board of Commissioners voted to support the process that would bring the recreational trail system in the area under county control.
Lori Hauswirth from the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region said a recreational authority is needed.
Not everyone at the meeting was in support of a trail system that would allow both motorized and non-motorized recreation.
A representative from the Portage Lake Land Owners Association voiced her organization’s support for non-motorized activity only.
Hauswirth said she understands that it will take some effort to bring everyone together on the project.
Representatives from Houghton and Keweenaw Counties will now get together to draft articles of incorporation to be presented to the Boards for approval.
Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients—May 16, 2012
WELFARE RECIPIENTS IN MICHIGAN MAY SOON HAVE TO UNDERGO DRUG TESTS.
A STATE HOUSE COMMITTEE TUESDAY GAVE ITS APPROVAL TO A BILL THAT COULD REQUIRE ADULTS IN FAMILIES RECEIVING WELFARE BENEFITS TO SUBMIT TO DRUG TESTS TO CONTINUE THOSE BENEFITS.
THE LEGISLATION WAS REPORTED OUT ON A NEAR PARTY-LINE VOTE.
IT WOULD CREATE A ONE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM IN THREE COUNTIES WHERE ALL NEW APPLICANTS AND PEOPLE SEEKING TO RENEW BENEFITS COULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE A DRUG TEST, AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, IF THE CASEWORKER HAS REASONABLE SUSPICION THE PERSON IS TAKING DRUGS.
AFTER THE PILOT, THE PROGRAM WOULD BE EXPANDED STATEWIDE.
THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED COMMITTEE REJECTED A SERIES OF DEMOCRATIC AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING ONE THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED BENEFITS TO CONTINUE IF THE RECIPIENT ENTERED A DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM.
Number Of Cyber Schools Expanded—May 16, 2012
GOVERNOR RICK SNYDER HAS SIGNED LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS MORE CYBER CHARTER SCHOOLS TO OPEN IN MICHIGAN.
THE LEGISLATION WILL GRADUALLY LIFT THE CAP ON CYBER SCHOOLS, STARTING AT FIVE SCHOOLS UNTIL 2014, LIFTING IT TO 10 BY 2015, AND KEEPING IT LIMITED AT 15 AFTER 2015.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO CYBER SCHOOLS AUTHORIZED IN THE STATE.
IT ALSO GRADUALLY INCREASES THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS A CYBER SCHOOL CAN HAVE FROM TWO-THOUSAND-500 IN THE FIRST YEAR TO 10-THOUSAND IN THE THIRD YEAR.
SNYDER SAYS, QUOTE, “EMPOWERING MORE PARENTS AND STUDENTS WITH THE OPTION TO ENROLL IN CYBER CHARTER SCHOOLS AND ATTEND COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES INCREASES NOT ONLY THEIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO THEIR POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.”
Tough Time For Unemployed Teens—May 16, 2012
IT’S GOING TO BE A TOUGH SUMMER FOR TEENAGERS LOOKING FOR WORK IN MICHIGAN.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT & BUDGET HAS PUT OUT ITS FORECAST FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT FOR TEENAGERS, AND IS EXPECTING THE TEEN JOBLESS RATE TO BE 26.4 PERCENT. THAT WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT, HOWEVER, OVER LAST YEAR.
DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH AUGUST, APPROXIMATELY 287,400 TEENS ARE PROJECTED TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT. OF THOSE TEENS, 211,500 ARE PROJECTED TO FIND JOBS, AN INCREASE OF 6,700 OVER LAST SUMMER.
THE TEEN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN MICHIGAN LAST SUMMER WAS 28.6 PERCENT. AS A RESULT OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DECLINE, 6,200 FEWER TEENS ARE PROJECTED TO BE WITHOUT A JOB THIS SUMMER.
STATE OFFICIALS SAY THE MARKET FOR TEENS IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE, AND THEY ARE ALSO FACING COMPETITION FROM OLDER WORKERS FOR THE SAME JOBS THIS SUMMER.
THEY ADD THAT IF TEENS START LOOKING EARLY AND REMAIN PERSISTENT, THEIR CHANCES OF GETTING SUMMER JOBS CAN IMPROVE.