Infestation prevention hits wall as state runs out of cash

The Bay City Times updates the story regarding the emerald ash borer infestation discovered in Iosco County:

Help may arrive too late to prevent emerald ash borer beetles from spreading beyond an infested area on the Iosco-Alcona county border, a state agriculture official said this week. "We won't do anything before the beetle starts flying - it's unfortunate," said Larry Perreault, a supervisor at the Michigan Department of Agriculture's Saginaw regional office.

With just three weeks or so until the voracious insects begin emerging, the state doesn't have enough money to complete its program of cutting down ash trees to try to stem the spread of the bugs, Perreault said. The Agriculture Department is using what federal money it does have to cut trees in the outlying areas near the Michigan border and near the Mackinac Bridge. The hope is to prevent ash borers from leaving the Lower Peninsula, he said.

Right now, there are no specific plans to cut trees in the infested area on the Iosco-Alcona border, or at two sites in Sanilac County and one site in Midland County, near Coleman, he said.

Federal grant improves area response capability

The Oscoda Press reports on the status of the $226,467 Homeland Security grant awarded to Iosco County:

According to Twarog, Iosco County emergency personnel have long had problems communicating in the field because radio signals are blocked in some areas and agencies are operating on different systems and frequencies. This was the nature of the inner-operability which was lacking between New York City responders on Sept. 11, Twarog said. ..., the 800 MHz project will allow police to communicate with the dispatch center and, eventually, with all other emergency personnel.

The goal is to also tie in all fire departments, area hospitals, EMS, first responders and other agencies whose services could be needed during a disaster, they said. The county will also be able to use the Michigan State Police 800 MHz tower, which should save the county money and lessen the county's equipment and facility needs, Twarog said.

According to Fonger, $139,063 of the grant went to the new radio system, with the second most expensive purchase being a $52,245 automated vehicle location system that allows E-911 dispatchers to track the location of all emergency vehicles.

This is the third Homeland Security grant awarded to Iosco County since Sept. 11, 2001.

Read the whole article for the complete list of projects paid for by this grant.

Air Force spending $3.8 million to knock down old housing units at former Wurtsmith base

The Bay City Times reports on new funding to demolish old housing units at the Wurtsmith base:

The U.S. Air Force will provide nearly $3.8 million to help demolish hundreds of vacant, dilapidated housing units at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Iosco County. The demolition project has been on Oscoda Township's wish list for several years. "It's a problem that wasn't going to go away, and the price tag was much more than we could afford," said Gary Kellan, director of Oscoda's Office for Economic Development.

Kellan said it took federal legislation to make the Wurtsmith project eligible for Air Force funding. Kellan said Sen. Carl Levin was successful in adding the project to the 2005 Department of Defense appropriations bill. Kellan said the bulk of the new money is earmarked to demolish more than 350 high-density housing units in 68 buildings. No one has occupied the buildings since the Air Force's departure. The Air Force funding will also pay for some needed work on the base's water distribution system, he said.

The demolition project will likely begin later this year, Kellan said. It will include tearing down the vacant multiple-unit housing near the Villages of Oscoda, as well as some high-density row housing near the entrance to the old air base.

Wurtsmith had about 1,200 housing units when it operated as a military base. Since its closure, more than half of the homes have been renovated and sold or leased as a site condominium community.

Arnold Line Marks First Spring Crossing

A sure sign that Spring is upon is the start up of the ferries. This article from the Mackinac Island Town Crier describes the 2005 openning of regular ferry schedules to Mackinac Island:

The 2005 ferry season officially began Wednesday, April 6, for Arnold Transit Company as the passenger ferry Huron traveled across Lake Huron from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace at 10 a.m. The boat carried a full load of island residents eager to step from winter to spring on the mainland.

Arnold Transit broke ice near the Favorite Dock and Dock No. 1 in St. Ignace Monday, April 4, with its freight barge, Islander. Much of the ice that had covered the Straits had melted or drifted away last week.

Shepler’s Mackinac Ferry will begin its freight business in a couple of weeks. Its passenger ferry service will begin in Mackinaw City Friday, April 29, and in St. Ignace Thursday, May 5.

Star Line passenger service begins Monday, April 25, from its main dock in St. Ignace and Friday, May 6, from Mackinaw City. The Railroad Dock in St. Ignace will open Friday, May
27.