BEULAH

Five Michigan men were arrested when officials broke up a drug deal and found fentanyl in one vehicle and cash in the other, according to authorities.

BEULAH, MICH. -- Early registrations are officially open for the annual Cherry Roubaix Gran Fondo bike tour and race, the Michigan Bike Racing Association’s state championship of road cycling. Now in its 14th year, the race features 30-, 45- and 62-mile routes that begin and end at Crystal Mountain Resort, taking riders through scenic Benzonia and Manistee Counties. “There’s tremendous enthusiasm for the race this year,” said Bill Kennis, race director. “The Cherry Roubaix is a popular event and brings riders from around Michigan and the Midwest. The fee includes rest breaks with cherry pie from the historic Cherry Hut restaurant, plus a lunch, live music and local craft beer.

A 57-year-old man has been charged with homicide after a 72-year-old woman was found dead Friday inside of a home in Benzie County.

WEXFORD COUNTY, MI – Police have identified a pedestrian who died after being hit by a vehicle in Northern Michigan. An investigation determined the pedestrian was in the roadway when the vehicle hit them. It was the second fatal crash involving a pedestrian to occur in Wexford County in 24 hours. On Wednesday, a pedestrian that was attempting to cross M-115 near Mackinaw Trail in Clam Lake Township was hit by semi-truck and killed. Police have not identified the victim in that accident.

BEULAH, MI – A Northern Michigan man was sentenced to life in prison this week for murdering his neighbor, WPBN/WGTU reports. Taylor Manol, 24, of Beulah, was found guilty in July of the first-degree murder of his 56-year-old neighbor Alexander Sarantos who was shot and killed through his front window in April 2020. Sarantos’ body was discovered by police after a friend called 911 upon noticing bullet holes in the front window of Sarantos’ home on Cinder Street in Beulah.

BEULAH, MI – Some Northern Michigan sheriffs are questioning the legality of a recent ban on open carrying guns near polling places on Election Day and have said they won’t enforce it. Open carry has not been banned during in-person early voting, and concealed guns will still be allowed on Election Day. The Michigan Sheriff’s Association advised sheriffs to consult their local prosecutors about whether to uphold the ban, the report said. Further, Michigan has no laws prohibiting open carry; it’s an open carry state. Schendel and O’Brien both said they expect people to open carry at polls in response to the order when they probably won’t have otherwise.

BEULAH, MI -- A backup of wipes flushed down toilets caused 10,000 gallons of human waste to spill from a manhole according to the Associated Press and the Traverse City Record-Eagle. The mess spilled last Monday, Oct. 12 and was cleaned up in a few hours according to Superintendent Brady Streeter. When the wipes don’t break down, they can form a mass known as a “fatberg” which can clog systems and cause massive backups. In 2018, officials with the Macomb County Public Works Office removed a fatberg that was 100-feet long, 11-feet wide and 6-feet tall. In May, officials in Macomb County said they’re removing 4,000 pounds of wipes a week at just one of the pump stations.

BEULAH, Mich. – Small town, big mess. Baby wipes clogged the wastewater system in Beulah in northern Michigan, causing a backup of 10,000 gallons of human waste from a manhole, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. The spill was on the grounds of the village's wastewater treatment plant. “Wipes are a recurring problem for sewer or septic systems,” said Scott Dean, a spokesman at the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Indeed, in May, Macomb County in suburban Detroit said it had been removing 4,000 pounds of wipes a week at one pump station.

BEULAH, Mich. A 67-year-old man suffered from second- and third-degree burns after his camper trailer exploded at the Veterans Memorial State Forest Campground on Friday morning. The man reportedly held up the roof so that his wife, 60, and dog could escape from the camper. A camper trailer exploded at a campground in Beulah, Michigan on July 31 after a man attempted to ignite the stove. A camper trailer exploded at a campground in Beulah, Michigan on July 31 after a man attempted to ignite the stove. (Michigan State Police)The Michigan State Police Fire Marshall was called to investigate the cause of the fire, officials said.