GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY

This week, 16 Michigan counties are at what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider high COVID-19 levels, meaning residents there should take precautions and wear masks while in public and indoors. Last week, only Grand Traverse County in northern Michigan was at a such a level, which considers recent COVID hospitalizations and new cases by area. RELATED: Michigan COVID-19 deaths increase this week as cases, hospitalizations continue to riseThe northeastern part of the United States remains most affected by the recent surge in cases, but the impact is spreading west. All but a handful of Michigan counties saw increases this week compared to last week. Michigan hospitals, as of Monday, were operating at about 79% capacity.

Several Metro Detroit counties have been upgraded to a “high” COVID-19 risk category and are being urged to practice mask wearing in public by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After a period of decreased coronavirus spread, COVID cases are starting to rise in some regions across the U.S. and the world -- including in some parts of Michigan.

Grand Traverse County saw 12 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days ending Tuesday, May 3. It also had more than 200 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, in the same period. RELATED: 7-day average of new, confirmed COVID cases up 32% this week in MichiganAdditionally, Clinton, Livingston, Wayne, Macomb and Monroe counties went this week from low level green to yellow. Southeast Michigan has been hardest hit by the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in the state, but most areas are seeing increases. They were seeing 9.6 new confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals per 100,000 people in the seven days ending Tuesday.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Quick thinking by two off-duty sheriff’s deputies likely saved an umpire having a cardiac emergency. According to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, the umpire was working home plate during a softball game at Benzie Central High School when he collapsed and stopped breathing on Wednesday. A shock was then administered, deputies said. The umpire regained consciousness shortly after and was transported to Munson Hospital by emergency ambulance. He was stabilized and continued to receive cardiac care upon arrival, deputies said.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI -- A man who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence causing death will spend up to 15 years in prison after he was sentenced this week for his role in the October 2021 death of 66-year-old Mike Trailer. According to UpNorthLive, Judge Kevin Elsenheimer sentenced Justin Greene to 70 months to 15 years in prison this week following Greene’s plea in February. Trailer was waiting at the intersection with another vehicle in front of him when Greene crashed into Trailer’s car. Trailer’s vehicle then crashed into the vehicle in front of him. READ MORE:See video in Grand Rapids police fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya‘Name the killer cop’: Hundreds protest in Grand Rapids in response to fatal police shooting‘She was a beautiful soul who got involved with the wrong person,’ says friend of woman killed in Buena Vista Township

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Conservation officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources shut down an illegal snowmobile drag race last month. According to an official report, the incident occurred when William Kinney, a CO in DNR District 4, responded to a frozen lake in Grand Traverse County. The DNR had received a complain of an illegal race being held. The race was not permitted, and multiple snowmobile and park violations were being broken, according to the report. Grand Traverse County is located in DNR District 4 which also includes Benzie, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Wexford counties.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A Houghton County undersheriff has pleaded not guilty to operating while intoxicated, UpNorthLive reports. Kevin Coppo was charged with OWI after he was arrested for drunken driving at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City on March 3. Deputies in Grand Traverse County said he backed into an unoccupied car in the parking lot of the popular family tourism destination known for themed hotel rooms and elaborate indoor water parks. The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office announced Mach 10 that Coppo would be taking a leave of absence. Coppo is not allowed to drink alcohol or enter establishments that serve alcohol.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A Michigan woman who caused a head-on crash had a BAC almost five times over the legal limit. Troopers from the Michigan State Police responded to the two-vehicle crash, which occurred near the intersection of Garfield Road and Mayfield Road in Grand Traverse County’s Paradise Township at 1:37 p.m. on Thursday. An Initial investigation revealed a 39-year-old Traverse City woman was traveling northbound on Garfield Road when she crossed over the center line and into oncoming traffic. One vehicle traveling southbound on Garfield Road was able to swerve into the ditch to avoid the vehicle, but a second vehicle was struck head-on, police said. A report is being provided to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s Office for review, police said.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Police have identified a man found dead inside a burning home in Grand Traverse County. John Michael Campeau, 59, of East Bay Township was found dead with what police said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the home in East Bay Township at 7:40 p.m. on Monday. Deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend’s 15-year-old daughter. At that time they noticed smoke coming out of the windows and some flames within the home, according to a news release. Deputies then made several attempts to search the house with robots and drones through windows and an open door but could not locate Campeau.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A man was found dead inside a burning Northern Michigan home with what police said is a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office responded to East Bay Township to investigate a reported domestic assault at 7:40 p.m. on Monday. A 59-year-old man from East Bay Township had allegedly assaulted his girlfriend’s 15-year-old daughter. Deputies then made several attempts to search the house with robots and drones through windows and an open door but could not locate the man. Deputies eventually located a deceased male with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Rapper Nelly will perform at the 2022 National Cherry Festival in Traverse City this summer.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – More than 100 dogs that were seized from a large-scale breeding operation in Northern Michigan will soon be available for adoption, officials said. RELATED: Man charged in large-scale dog breeding operation at blighted Northern Michigan propertyOn Jan. 28, 164 dogs were seized from an East Bay Township property owned by 72-year-old Raymond Feagles. The remaining dogs are in the care of Cherryland Humane Society, which has dubbed them the “Disney Dogs.”“Every single one of these pooches deserves a happily ever after,” the humane society said in an update on Monday, Feb. 14. “It was much worse than any of us could have imagined,” the humane society said. “It fills our hearts to watch their confidence grow, their personalities start to develop, and to accept love without hesitation,” the humane society said.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Police have identified the victim of a fatal fire in Grand Traverse County. According to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, 71-year-old Lawrence Gerred died in the blaze which occurred on Bates Road in Acme Township at 12:14 a.m. on Jan. 30. The building, located next to the Through the Roof Fellowship Church, was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived. The fire had extended to the worship building of the church, but firefighters quickly extinguished it. Firefighters from the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department as well as firefighters from Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Williamsburg and Peninsula Township responded to the scene.

EAST BAY TOWNSHIP, MI – Authorities are investigating the death of at least one dog at a blighted Northern Michigan property where 163 dogs were seized last week, officials said. Multiple agencies had coordinated to clean up blight at a property in East Bay Township on Friday morning, Jan. 28, the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Upon arrival, they found what no one anticipated: 163 dogs in “unsafe conditions,” resulting in their mass removal from the property. The canines are now in the care of Grand Traverse County Animal Control and Cherryland Humane Society. Animal control officers from six counties were called in to help along with an additional humane society.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Officials are investigating the cause of a fatal fire in Grand Traverse County. Firefighters from the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department responded to the blaze, which occurred on Bates Road in Acme Township at 12:14 a.m. on Sunday. The building, located next to the Through the Roof Fellowship Church, was fully engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived. After the fire was under control, crews found a deceased victim in the structure. Firefighters from three Grand Traverse Metro stations, Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Williamsburg and Peninsula Township responded to the scene.

Authorities discovered more than 160 dogs at a rural property near Traverse City after arriving to enforce blight violations.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Police are investigating after a man’s body was found in Grand Traverse County. UpNorthLive.com reports that foul play is not suspected, but the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office is having an autopsy completed in Kalamazoo. RELATED: Homeless man found dead near UAW building in MichiganThe man was found in the Hoosier Valley area and the Department of Natural Resources said the person may be the same man a DNR officer encountered when his truck became stuck on state forest land on Sunday. According to the DNR, one of its officers encountered a man and a woman who had gotten their car stuck in a water hole, the TV station reported. The man has not been publicly identified.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI - An Alma man died in a head-on crash Saturday afternoon in Northern Michigan, police said. Troopers responded to a crash report around 1:10 p.m., Nov. 27 to South Garfield Road near East Blair Town Hall Road in Paradise Township in Grand Traverse County, said the Michigan State Police in a release. Todd Schuster, the 50-year-old Alma man, was driving northbound in a Chevrolet Equinox on Garfield Road when he lost control and slid into oncoming traffic, police said. Paradise Township firefighters pulled Schuster out of the vehicle, police said, and paramedics transported him to Munson Hospital in Traverse City. Read more from MLive:1 dead, 1 seriously injured in crash near Ann ArborWinter weather creates dangerous roads in Southeast Michigan, officials say‘Your season is over’: Michigan State Police poke fun at OSU fans in message after Wolverine victory

A man has died after his vehicle crashed head-on into another vehicle Saturday afternoon in Grand Traverse County.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A 54-year-old Michigan is accused of sexually abusing multiple minor victims. Troopers from the Michigan State Police Cadillac Post had been investigating Wisniewski since they received a tip from Child Protective Services about an alleged sexual abuse complaint on Nov. 2. Troopers worked with CPS to identify possible victims, who were then interviewed. A search warrant was executed at the suspect’s residence on Nov. 10. Wisniewski was arrested and lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail.

The following charts show confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in Grand Traverse County, Michigan dating back to January 2020.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A Michigan man was arrested after used Facebook to make threats against downtown Traverse City. The 24-year-old Traverse City man, who police say they’ve had previous encounters with due to his known anti-police behavior, has been charged with false report or threat of terrorism. The incident occurred on Monday night when Facebook alerted Michigan State Police about a video posted on social media of a man making threats towards downtown Traverse City. The suspect was lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail where he is awaiting arraignment. The MSP was assisted by deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Traverse City Police Department.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI -- Justin Greene, a 26-year-old Traverse City man has been charged in connection to the death of a man who was killed Friday in a three-car crash. The crash took place around 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 22. Trailer and another driver were waiting at the intersection of Hammond and Lafranier roads when police allege Greene’s car crashed into Trailer’s. After being hit by Greene’s car, Trailer’s car then crashed into the car in front of him being driven by an 85-year-old man, who is also from Traverse City. Up North Live also reports Trailer was a noted member of the community and served as a paramedic in neighboring Benzie County for several years.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI -- A 66-year-old man was killed Friday evening after his car was hit from behind by another driver, sending his car into the car in front of him. According to the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office, an 85-year-old Traverse City man was preparing to turn eastbound onto Hammond Road from Lafranier Road around 7:45 p.m. The 66-year-old Traverse City man was in his own vehicle behind the vehicle operated by the 85-year-old when a third vehicle traveling southbound on Lafranier Road struck the vehicle operated by the 66-year-old man. The 66-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. The third car involved in the crash was being driven by a 26-year-old Traverse City man who was arrested and lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail for operating while impaired causing death and reckless driving causing death.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – An intruder who a woman briefly thought was her husband was arrested after he called the police on himself in Northern Michigan. The trooper searched the area and located the suspect, 43-year-old Kevin William Tighe from Williamsburg, in the backyard of his parents’ home nearby. Later that evening Tighe called 911 to report he was lost, police said. When troopers arrived, Tighe flagged them down and he was taken into custody and lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail. Tighe was arraigned in the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County on Oct. 14.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A mother monitoring her daughter’s social media accounts discovered the girl had been sexually assaulted, leading to the arrest of a suspect, police said. The woman had been monitoring her daughter’s social media accounts and found a disturbing post on TikTok. An investigation led to the arrest of John Marcus Sikoski Vanhorn, 19, of Grawn, the release said. He is charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct assault with intent to commit penetration, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. READ MORE:Man charged in ‘random execution’ of panhandler outside Michigan gas stationMissing woman, 31, found dead in Northern Michigan woods, police suspect homicideMan charged in fatal shooting of bystander outside Michigan bar

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A woman is in serious condition after a man allegedly ignored a stop sign, causing a two-vehicle rollover crash in Northern Michigan early Monday, police said. A 62-year-old Lake City man who was driving of the second vehicle, a gray Ford pick-up truck, was not injured. A 48-year-old female Jeep passenger was seriously injured while the 15-year-old female driver sustained minor injuries. A 48-year-old female Jeep passenger was seriously injured while the 15-year-old female driver sustained minor injuries. A 48-year-old female Jeep passenger was seriously injured while the 15-year-old female driver sustained minor injuries.

BLAIR TOWNSHIP, MI – A Michigan State Police vehicle was hit in a three-vehicle crash in Grand Traverse County on Wednesday morning, Sept. 22. Pleasant woman struck the patrol car from behind. The impact sent the patrol car into northbound traffic where it was hit by a red Honda Pilot driven by a 20-year-old woman from Cedar. Pleasant woman was taken to Munson Hospital in Traverse City for treatment of broken ribs and foot. The crash remains under investigation.

A prosecutor has filed criminal complaints against two northern Michigan men in connection with an attack on a newspaper reporter covering a meeting by a group opposing masks and vaccination mandates.

A newspaper reporter says he was punched in the face while covering an anti-mask event near Traverse City.

GREEN LAKE TOWNSHIP, MI – A woman is dead after a semi-truck versus bicycle crash in Grand Traverse County Tuesday morning, Aug. 24, 9&10 News reports. The crash occurred around 6 a.m. when the woman apparently turned into the path of the truck near the intersection of US-31 and South Long Lake Road, known as Interlochen Corners, in Green Lake Township, the report said. The crash remains under investigation. The woman’s identity has not been released. READ MORE:Body found in vehicle that sparked fire at Traverse City motelYoung Michigan police K-9 dies of heart attackBlack bear euthanized after hit-and-run crash in Northern MichiganNorthern Michigan man takes plea deal in killing of ex-girlfriendMore than 20% of recent COVID cases, hospitalizations have been among Michigan’s fully vaccinated81 Michigan counties should mask up regardless of vaccine status, per CDC

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Well this stinks. Motorists in Northern Michigan probably said something along those lines after traffic was blocked by an unexpected source on Monday morning. According to Grand Traverse 911, the tank, in which sewage is collected and allowed to decompose through bacterial activity before draining, caused delays at Barlow Street near Eighth Street in Traverse City. RELATED: Poop thrown by chimp at John Ball Zoo lands on grandma’s nosePolice later determined that an older-style Winnebago RV lost the tank on Grandview Parkway, just east of Park Street. Fortunately, traffic is now flowing smoothly and no more backups are expected, according to police.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A Michigan man accused of disciplining a young relative by placing him in handcuffs, sticking his head in the toilet, and flushing it has been charged with child abuse. Tyler Frederick Briegel, 28, of Traverse City was arraigned by video in the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County on one count of second-degree child abuse on Thursday. The charges come after Michigan State Police interviewed the child at the Child Advocacy Center in Traverse City on Aug. 11. A report was submitted to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s Office for review and an arrest warrant was authorized on Aug. 16. Briegel was arrested during a traffic stop on Aug. 18 in Traverse City and lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail.

The latest decennial count shows Ottawa, Grand Traverse and Kent counties were the three fastest-growing parts of Michigan in the last decade. Ottawa County is the seventh-largest county by population but outpaced the rest of the state in growth, swelling by 12% in the last 10 years. The 2020 Census county showed Grand Traverse County close behind. Kent County, located directly east of Ottawa County and home to Grand Rapids, was the third-fastest growing county in Michigan. Washtenaw County, home to Ann Arbor, grew by 8%, while Oakland County grew by 6% and Macomb County grew by 5%.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Officers are asking for help from the community after a dog as found tied to a tree in Grand Traverse County. The Grand Traverse County Animal Control says the dog was found tied tightly to a tree off Business Park Drive, near Three Mile Road in East Bay Township. They posted photos of the dog on Facebook Thursday morning, one of which showed the dog in good spirits. Anyone with information should call or message the Grand Traverse County Animal Control at 231-995-6080.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI -- A North Carolina woman is facing a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon after she allegedly stabbed her mother last week following a camping trip in Michigan. Michigan State Police say Jami Evans, 45, of Havelock, North Carolina, was arraigned on the charge Monday in 86th District Court. Evans was arrested last week following an altercation with her mother in which the mom ended up in the hospital with a laceration on her arm. According to police, Evans and her mother were returning from a camping trip with Evans’ two daughters when an argument broke out. The mother told police she then pulled over to confront Evans and that’s when the stabbing allegedly occurred.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI -- A 45-year-old woman from Havelock, North Carolina was arrested Wednesday night after she allegedly stabbed her mother following a camping trip in Michigan. According to Michigan State Police, troopers were called to S M-32 Highway near Cour Avenue in Mayfield Township around 8:30 p.m. for reports of a stabbing. The mother allegedly told police she and her daughter had been fighting the entire trip and reached a tipping point on the drive home from the camping trip. When the daughter lit a cigarette in the backseat of the car, the mother asked her to put it out, however the daughter refused. Police recovered the knife used in the incident and the daughter was lodged at the Grand Traverse County jail pending formal charges.

Seven of Michigan’s 83 counties have hit President Biden’s goal of having 70% of adults age 18 and older vaccinated by July 4. The seven counties, based on data from the federal Centers of Disease Control: Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Emmet, Mackinac, Chippewa, Menominee and Dickinson. Seven other counties are between 65% and 70%: Oakland, Washtenaw, Marquette, Benzie, Delta, Alger and Ontonagon. The CDC data shows that about 5.13 million Michigan residents have been vaccinated so far, compared to 4.86 million in the MDHHS dataset. Below is a look at total vaccination numbers by county recorded by MDHHS compared to the CDC as of Friday.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Something new is coming to the National Cherry Festival in 2021. A cornhole tournament. Festival organizers, in partnership with the Michigan Cornhole League, announced the addition of the first official cornhole tournament, which will take place in the beer tent area in the Open Space Park beginning at noon on Wednesday, July 7. We are going to have a blast.”RELATED: 2021 National Cherry Festival planning underway, but with no concerts, airshowDuring this round robin seeding event each team will play four games against randomly against opponents. Tier 1 will be the top 32 teams from the round robin and Tier 2 will be the remaining teams.

Michigan’s attorney general said Friday she would not file charges against a county commissioner who displayed a rifle during a livestreamed meeting, an incident some described as illustrating racial and cultural tensions in the Lake Michigan resort area.

LANSING, MI – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel will not pursue charges against Grand Traverse County Commissioner who brandished a rifle during a virtual board meeting on Zoom earlier this year. During the public comment section of a virtual meeting held in January due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ronald Clous was seen leaving his seat and returning with a rifle which he held across his chest for about five seconds before setting it down out of frame. He did not point it directly at the camera at any point, Nessel said. “I appreciate the community member who came forward to file this report, and I respect the conclusion reached by my office. I find Commissioner Clous’ action to be reprehensible and irresponsible, but not illegal.

A Grand Traverse County commissioner who brandished a semiautomatic rifle during a virtual public meeting won’t be charged with a crime, Michigan Attorney General Dana...

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A man who tortured two teen sisters in a day-long trek around Grand Traverse County last summer has received a prison sentence that is more than double the state guidelines, WPBN/WGTU reports. Brandon Reyes, 20, of Grand Traverse County, was sentenced Friday, June 11, to 35-60 years in prison on two counts of torture and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, the report said. Reyes was accused of abducting, torturing and sexually assaulting the then 13- and 15-year-old teenage sisters during July 2020, MLive previously reported. Police were then called, and an Amber Alert for the 15-year-old with a description of Reyes’ vehicle was initiated. A Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s deputy who arrived on scene recovered the 15-year-old girl, who was injured and unresponsive, and took Reyes into custody.

An apparently homesick bear who was moved from an area in northwestern Michigan where he had raided bird feeders and trash cans has traveled back to the same location.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Police have identified a Michigan man who allegedly hijacked a bus and caused a vehicle crash in Northern Michigan. He was arraigned on Monday in the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County. The bus driver, fearing Willobee was going to strike him or spray him with the fire extinguisher, radioed for help and exited the bus. Willobee was uninjured and lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail, police said. Troopers were assisted at the scene by deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office and the Kingsley Fire Department.

But Grand Traverse County dispatchers quickly solved the mystery, identifying the eerie lights as SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. “We’ve received a few calls about a string of lights moving across the sky,” Grand Traverse 911 said in a Facebook post. “A quick internet search tells us that it is the new Starlink satellites from SpaceX. The satellites are being launched in large groups called constellations and string together in orbit, especially right after launching, Fienberg said. More than 1,500 Starlink internet satellites are now in low orbit around Earth; 60 were launched on Sunday, May 9, Space.com reports.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Police say a hijacked bus was involved in a vehicle crash in Northern Michigan. The bus driver, fearing the man was going to strike him or spray him with the fire extinguisher, radioed for help and exited the bus. There were no passengers on the BATA bus at the time of the crash. The suspect was uninjured and lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail, police said. Troopers were assisted at the scene by deputies from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office and the Kingsley Fire Department.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A Michigan State Police trooper was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Grand Traverse County, but fortunately no one was seriously injured. The initial investigation shows the trooper had stopped at a traffic signal and was beginning to edge forward after traffic stopped for him. Another driver, who was unable to see the patrol vehicle due to the stopped traffic, proceeded through the intersection and struck the patrol unit, according to police. The patrol unit sustained heavy damage and the vehicle that struck the patrol vehicle overturned. The occupants of the other vehicle refused medical treatment at the scene, police said.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Volunteers took more than 10,000 pounds of trash from the woods near the Boardman River in Grand Traverse County over the weekend. The coalition of volunteers on site on Saturday, April 17 included the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Department, Traverse Area Paddle Club, Youthwork, Grand Traverse Conservation District, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Trout Unlimited, Brook Trout Coalition and Audubon of Traverse City. The 28.2-mile-long Boardman River flows throughout Grand Traverse County into the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay. Volunteers then paddled back to the site to get more trash with most making seven to 10 trips until the site was clean. In total, the cleanup resulted in more trash being removed than in 10 years of river cleanups in the past.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A road rage incident between neighbors in Grand Traverse County ended with one man being stabbed multiple times. According to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Department, the incident occurred in Garfield Township at 3:54 p.m. on Tuesday when a 24-year-old Garfield Township man and a friend were driving past the victim’s residence where a verbal interaction took place. The victim, a 30-year-old Garfield Township then began following the suspect in his vehicle, police said. The suspect then began stabbing victim through the open window with a folding knife striking him multiple times, according to police. The suspect was arrested for attempted murder and transported to the Grand Traverse County Jail.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A woman is dead following a crash on US-31 in Grand Traverse County. The 73-year-old Empire woman was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries after the Monday crash, WPBN/WGTU reports. The second vehicle was driven by a 77-year-old Empire man; the woman was a passenger. The 77-year-old man also sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital; the 20-year-old was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, the report said. The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the crash.

Michigan’s National Cherry Festival that brings fruit fans to Traverse City each year is returning this summer after canceling 2020 events due to the coronavirus pandemic.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – They say April showers bring May flowers, but in one Northern Michigan community, April also brings gift certificates. A total of $5,000 in gift certificates will be hidden throughout downtown Traverse City as part of Honor Bank’s “Make it Rain” celebration marking the opening of its Commercial Lending Center at 415 E Front Street. The bank is partnering with Downtown TC and the Downtown TC Merchant Association to host the event, which will take place April 21-25. “This fun community event will benefit our Downtown small businesses who have been struggling during these challenging times. Lucky raindrop catchers are encouraged to post a photo on social media with the #makeitrainTC hashtag, tagging the business location, Honor Bank and downtown TC.

A 74-year-old woman is filing a federal lawsuit against Grand Traverse County and a commissioner who pulled out a semiautomatic rifle during a virtual public...

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – Two women are dead after sustaining life-threatening injuries in a head-on crash last week, the Benzie County Record Patriot reports. Brooke Miller, 21, of Beulah, and Dodie Ferguson, 43, of Interlochen, both died at a local hospital, according to the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office. The crash happened on Wednesday, March 17, on U.S. 31 near Betsie River Road in Grand Traverse County, police said. Police believe Miller was passing a vehicle on the two-lane highway when she collided head-on with Ferguson’s vehicle. READ MORE:Northern Michigan woman allegedly embezzled over $200K from her employerMonths-long CPL waitlist prompts lawsuit against Michigan countyMan charged with mutilating body of missing woman found dead in Detroit heads to trial

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A Northern Michigan sheriff’s department is mourning the loss of its beloved K-9. The Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Department announced that K-9 Cade died on Friday, March 5 after a year-long battle with cancer. RELATED: Michigan K-9 deployed 512 times during long career dies one day after his 13th birthday“He will be sorely missed,” a post on the department’s Facebook page reads. Cade was born November 27, 2015 and began service with the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office in December 2016 with his handler, deputy Mike Gray. He specialized in narcotics detection, tracking persons, criminal apprehension, and handler protection during his career with the department.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – A 71-year-old elected official in the Traverse City area claims she hasn’t had a raise in eight years because the county wants to force her out of office. Peggy Haines, the register of deeds in Grand Traverse County, has filed an age discrimination lawsuit. She has been in office since 2000 and was reelected in November, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. A register of deeds records all documents related to local real estate, including deeds, mortgages, land contracts and liens. Grand Traverse commissioners considered a merger last year, but it was voted down.

The Michigan Attorney General's office is considering whether charges should be filed against a county commissioner who displayed a rifle at a livestreamed public meeting.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – An 18-year-old man has been charged with criminal sexual conduct after police seized records from the Snapchat. Andrew Wilson Simmons of Traverse City has been charged with one count of third-degree CSC and two counts of fourth degree CSC. He was arraigned via video in the 86th District Court in Grand Traverse County. A search warrant was executed for Snapchat records, according to police. An arrest warrant was authorized for Simmons who turned himself in at the Grand Traverse County Jail on Feb. 23.

The seven-member Grand Traverse County Board voted 3-3 Wednesday on the resolution for U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported Thursday. It was presented by Republican county board Vice Chair Ron Clous, who displayed a rifle last month during an online meeting in response to a citizen’s comments against a far-right extremist group. Bergman, who was elected to a third term in November, gave the invocation at Wednesday’s meeting. “It actually steps over the line is when it’s brought to the county meeting,” Hundley said. “An abstention was intended to send the message that I do not wish to partake in this motion at all,” Nelson said after Wednesday’s meeting.

Registered patients previously barred from using medical marijuana while on probation may now light up, the state Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. In Komorn’s opinion, although the ruling doesn’t address the issue, the precedent should also apply to parolees or defendants on bond with release conditions that prohibit legal medical marijuana use. And that’s because of “specific language” in the ballot initiative voters passed prohibits any penalty for compliant use of medical marijuana, Komorn said. Despite that, Komorn said judges frequently, especially in Grand Traverse County where the case arose, impose marijuana probation restrictions on registered pattients. While arguing the medical marijuana probation condition in a lower court, Komorn said an opposing attorney said allowing medical marijuana use by his client was “akin to letting people drink who are on probation for drunk driving.”“Really,” Komorn said was his incredulous response.

Ron Clous, an elected member of the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, was at home during the livestreamed meeting Wednesday, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. “The only thing I know about them (Proud Boys) is when they came and spoke to us," Clous said. "To have a public official do that during a public meeting is horrendous.”Betsy Coffia, a fellow county commissioner, labeled Clous' action “deeply disturbing." “I am not a member of Proud Boys,” Hentschel said Wednesday. I’ve met Black Proud Boys, I’ve met multi-racial Puerto Rican Proud Boys and they inform me they also have gay Proud Boys.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A former jail administrator who pleaded guilty last month to several charges stemming from alleged sexual relationships with inmates has been sentenced to 16 months to 10 years in prison. Former Grand Traverse County Jail administrator Todd Ritter, 48, of Lake Ann, was sentenced Friday, Jan. 15. In one instance, it is alleged that Ritter used his position to retain a female inmate at the Grand Traverse County Jail after she completed her sentence and was supposed to be transferred to the Kalkaska County Jail. At the same time, Grand Traverse County inmates were being boarded – at taxpayer cost – at other jails due to overcrowding. RELATED: Former Michigan jail administrator pleads guilty to embezzlement, misconductRELATED: Former Grand Traverse County jail administrator charged with embezzlement, criminal sexual conductMichigan State Police led the investigation into the allegations following an internal review by outside legal consultants hired by the sheriff’s office.

KINGLSEY, Mich. – Michigan State Police located an abducted Wisconsin boy after a resident reported seeing the boy and his father in Kingsley. Azariah Petrick, 4, was reportedly taken by his father, Mark Anthony Petrick, on July 22. They were from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Troopers found Mark Petrick and the boy in a motorhome. Mark Petrick was uncooperative and gave police a fake name, officials said.

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. A Grand Traverse County jail administrator was arrested Thursday, charged with multiple felonies, including criminal sexual conduct and embezzlement. The arrest and charges come after an investigation by the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office. According to a press release, 48-year-old Todd Ritter, of Lake Ann, is charged with embezzlement by a public official over $50, larceny in a building, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, common law offenses - misconduct in office and willful neglect on duty. Reports of Ritters unprofessional conduct were initially examined in April 2019 by the county sheriffs office, placing him on administrative leave. Michigan State Police conducted an investigation following the county and the case was reviewed by the Attorney Generals office in April 2020Ritter is scheduled for an arraignment Friday.

GARFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. An Amber Alert has been issued in Grand Traverse County after a 15-year-old girl went missing on Sunday afternoon. Anna Mae Taylor of Garfield Township is believed to be in the company of a male named Brandon Reyes, who is also from Garfield Township, officials shared in a Facebook post. Taylor is described as standing 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighting 110 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes. Reyes is described as standing 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grand Traverse Central Dispatch at 231-922-4550.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. Lake Michigan is having a warm summer. MORE: Soak it up: Great Lakes surface temps are really, really warmThe summer high is 75.6 degrees recorded in August 2016, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA. Im loving this, Whitney Miller, a swim instructor, told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. I was a popsicle.The air temperature in the Traverse City topped 87 degrees for 11 consecutive days, according to the Midwest Regional Climate Center. Its a rare occurrence up here to get that long of a stretch of that weather and not cool down at least for a day or two, said meteorologist Matt Gillen of the National Weather Service.

LONG LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. A 57-year-old man is facing criminal sexual conduct charges after allegedly assaulting a minor in Long Lake Township. Ricky Alan Byard of Traverse City has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree with a person under 13 years old. At the time, Byard was dating someone in close connection with the victim, Michigan State Police say. The victim reportedly disclosed multiple incidents of sexual assault to a family member, who then contacted police. Byard is being held at the Grand Traverse County Jail on a $50,000 bond, police say.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. A sunken boat must be removed from the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan, according to state officials. Federal and state authorities said Thursday they are working to arrange the salvage operation for the 33-foot-long vessel that sank last month, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy spokesman Nick Assendelft said officials dont want that left in the water.The boat took on water June 19 and sank. The boats owner, Todd Elsenheimer, said he has insurance on the lake cruiser and his plan all along has been to remove it from the bay. The sunken boat continues to be monitored and it does not appear any of the 70 gallons of fuel believed to be on board has leaked, according to the Coast Guard.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. Officials have identified eight possible coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure locations -- including bars and vineyards -- in Traverse City after they were visited by a group of people who tested positive for the virus and admitted to not following any of the safety guidelines. Officials from the Grand Traverse County Health Department said a group of people visited the area last week and admitted they didnt practice any social distancing or COVID-19 prevention measures. Anyone who was at these locations at any of the corresponding times should self-monitor for coronavirus symptoms for 14 days. Anyone who is concerned they might have come in contact with the group should call the health departments Communicable Disease Line at 231-995-6801. While self-monitoring, everyone who might have been exposed should keep away from family members and friends as much as possible.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. Health officials in Grand Traverse County say that two people visiting the area from out-of-state have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The Grand Traverse County Health Department says the two were visiting family this weekend. Both travelers were symptomatic and one has been hospitalized, according to Traverse City Ticker. The Grand Traverse area was included in the first batch of regions reopening in the state, which started last Friday. As of Sunday, Grand Traverse County reported 23 total COVID-19 cases, and five total deaths.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday that she is partially reopening businesses and lifting medical restrictions across the entire state. READ: Michigan Gov. In Traverse City, restaurants and bars started to reopen at midnight Friday. One bar in Traverse City has asked people who are not from the area to stay out of the bar.

DETROIT – A lake effect system will bring two days of snow, high winds and lakeshore flooding issues to Northern Michigan. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Friday for several counties including Leelanau, Antrim, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Missaukee. Additionally, Northern, Central and Eastern parts of the Upper Peninsula could see several inches of snow, as well, including Marquette, Alger, Luce and Schoolcraft counties. Here’s more from the National Weather Service:NWS Gaylord: Portions of the area will have significant accumulating lake effect snow today through Friday. (NWS)Strong sustained northwest winds will produce lakeshore flooding today and tonight along most lakeshores of Lake Michigan and a small portion of lakeshores along Lake Huron.

KINGSLEY, Mich. - Police say two Michigan prison officers found dead last week were shot. Authorities in Grand Traverse County wont publicly say it was a murder-suicide, although they say theres no threat to the public. Tara Kelley and Angelina Winn were found dead Friday at their home near Kingsley. Both transferred to Oaks Correctional Facility, near Manistee, after the Pugsley prison was closed. The 53-year-old Kelley was named officer of the year at Pugsley in 2013.

Where do Michigan counties rank among the healthiest in America? U.S. News released their 2019 Healthiest Communities Rankings this week, ranking nearly 3,000 counties on a range of categories. Population healthEquityEducationEconomyHousingFood & nutritionEnvironmentPublic safetyCommunity vtalityInfrasturctureRelated: 6 Michigan cities listed among worst places to live in USWell, no Michigan county ranked that well on the list. Here's where local counties ranked in the top 500:No. 495: Benzie CountyThe healthiest ranked counties were Douglas County (Colorado), Los Alamos County (New Mexico) and Falls Church (Virginia).