Most MDOT roadside parks reopening April 28

Most MDOT roadside parks reopening April 28

by | Apr 22, 2025 | Transportation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2025 		 MEDIA CONTACT
Dan Weingarten
906-250-4809
[email protected]

Most MDOT roadside parks reopening April 28

LANSING, Mich. ­– Roadside parks operated by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will reopen for the season Monday, April 28.

MDOT maintains 85 roadside parks around the state. Some parks operate seasonally, usually closing in late October and reopening in the spring.

The following roadside parks will remain closed until later this year due to weather, maintenance or construction activities:

Alger County

  • Deer Lake Roadside Park on M-28 (closed until May 5 due to snow)
  • Grand Island Roadside Park on M-28 (closed until May 5 due to snow)
  • Kiva Roadside Park on US-41 (closed until May 5 due to snow)
  • Scott Falls Roadside Park on M-28 (closed until later in the year for restoration work)

Baraga County

  • Tioga Creek Roadside Park on US-41/M-28 (closed until May 12 due to snow)
  • Canyon Falls Roadside Park on US-41 (closed until May 12 due to snow)

Calhoun County

  • Burlington Roadside Park on M-60 (closed for repaving)

Huron County

  • White Rock Roadside Park on M-25 (closed until May for restroom installation)

Ingham County

  • Red Cedar Roadside Park on M-43 (closed for the summer for construction)

Keweenaw County

  • Esrey Roadside Park on M-26 (closed until May 12 due to snow)

Sanilac County

  • Four Mile Roadside Park on M-25 (closed until May for restroom installation)

While most parks are scheduled to reopen April 28, motorists should not expect drinking water at all parks to be turned on until sometime later in May, after annual testing and treatment of the park water systems is completed.

A map showing the status of MDOT roadside parks is available on the MDOT website. 

Celebrate Earth Day the Right Way

Celebrate Earth Day the Right Way

by | Apr 22, 2025 | Agriculture

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For immediate release: April 22, 2025

Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel, 517-290-1734

Celebrate Earth Day the Right Way with Helpful Tips from MDARD

LANSING, Mich. – In celebration of Earth Day today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is offering Michiganders tips to improve the health of their gardens, their lawns and the broader environment.

“This Earth Day, MDARD invites all Michiganders to join us in protecting the natural resources that make our state a great place to live,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “Small but meaningful actions like planting a variety of species and using pesticides and fertilizer responsibly can help ensure a more sustainable future for Michigan.”

Regenerative practices are some of the best methods to build healthy soil and maximize water retention in lawns and gardens. More specifically, homeowners and gardeners can:

  • Maximize biodiversity – Planting a variety of plants can provide food and habitat for local wildlife, attract pollinators and other helpful insects and reduce the need for pesticides by keeping pests in check.
  • Maintain living roots – Choosing perennial plants that grow back every year promotes soil health and reduces the need for replanting.
  • Keep soil covered and undisturbed – Using mulching materials can preserve moisture and prevent excessive tilling.

Although pesticides and fertilizer can help maintain lawns and gardens, improper use can contaminate water and damage the environment. Michiganders who use these tools should:

  • Test the soil – Using too much fertilizer can harm plants and contaminate water. Soil and plant tissue testing can help determine whether and which fertilizer should be applied.
  • Read labels carefully – Always follow the application rates, timing and safety instructions printed on the product label.
  • Use alternatives to pesticides – Instead of using only pesticides, adopt integrated pest management practices such as removing food sources or shelter and addressing points of entry into spaces where pests are not wanted.
  • Only apply when it’s dry – Applying pesticides or fertilizer before a rainstorm increases the risk of runoff, which can pollute water sources.
  • Practice safe disposal – Never pour unused chemicals in the trash or down the drain. Visit MDARD’s Clean Sweep website and contact your local waste facility for safe disposal guidance.

For more information about improving soil health, planting native species and safe pesticides and fertilizer use, visit www.michigan.gov/mdard or follow MDARD on Facebook, Instagram or X.
Communities win national Election Commission awards

Communities win national Election Commission awards

by | Apr 21, 2025 | Regional News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2025Contact: Cheri Hardmon

[email protected]

Five Michigan communities win national Election Assistance Commission awards for outstanding work in election administration

LANSING, Mich – Today, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson congratulated five Michigan election administrators and jurisdictions selected as winners of U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Clearinghouse Awards. The “Clearie” Awards are presented annually across the nation for best practices in election administration.

“The 2024 elections were historic both for record-breaking voter turnout and as the very first statewide elections with in-person early voting,” Secretary Benson said. “Congratulations to these five county and local election administrators for their outstanding work and this well-deserved national honor. I’m so grateful to work with dedicated election officials across the state who go above and beyond to make sure every election is secure and that every eligible citizen can make their voice heard.”

Michigan winners of the 2024 EAC Clearinghouse Awards:

  • City of Monroe Clerk – Treasurer’s Office received an award in the category of Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives for its “Ready, Set, Vote” media strategy to increase election communication and voter engagement.
  • Ottawa County Clerk/Register Of Deeds received an award in the category of Communications: Distinguished Voter Education and Communications Initiatives for its  “Not a Podcast” – Ballots & Banter video series. Election staff filmed episodes touching on topics that include ballot box security, early voting, election fraud and more.
  • Harrison Township Clerk, Michigan - Boat Town I Voted Sticker received an award in the category of “I Voted” Stickers: Creative and Original “I Voted” Stickers. Drawing on its Boat Town USA nickname, the township selected the tagline “Boat Town, Vote Town” to promote elections in the community.
Boat Town Vote Town

The EAC Clearie awards received a record 258 entries for programs implemented in the 2024 presidential election year. Submissions were judged on innovation, sustainability, outreach, cost-effectiveness, replicability, and the generation of positive results. The full list of winners is available online at the EAC website.

The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements, adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration.
Football Storylines Around the League to watch this summer

Football Storylines Around the League to watch this summer

by | Apr 21, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Football Storylines Around the League to watch this summer.

Written Sunday April 20th at 12:03 PM

Happy Easter OAA Nation. Here are several OAA Football storylines heading into this fall.

Any takers to Ford Field???

There should be plenty of OAA representation that are serious contenders to get back to Ford Field. Adams in Division One when healthy is a very dangerous team especially with the system they run in the veer offense and with Ryland Waters coming back at quarterback which should allow Nolan Farris to move back to wide receiver. The Highlanders could be a team when healthy could make another deep postseason run. Harper Woods is the other serious contender in Division Four, the Pioneers are loaded with proven experience on both sides of the football and wants to get back after a really tough loss to Goodrich in the State Semifinals last season. Other teams that could get to Ford Field include Stoney Creek, Clarkston, West Bloomfield, and Lake Orion in Division One while Groves, Oak Park, North Farmington, Farmington, and Seaholm are possible teams to watch in Division Two.

Groves is the most interesting to keep an eye on.

The Falcons had Ford Field in their grasp but very questionable play calling and coaching decisions cost them in their stunning 28-27 overtime loss to Orchard Lake St. Marys in the Division Two State Semifinals last season. Groves lost a ton of proven talent from last season. They will have a new quarterback in LaVelle Shannon taking over and proven lines on both sides of the football. The White will be much improved with Stoney Creek and Harper Woods looking to be the top teams with Rochester not too far behind while Southfield Arts and Tech should be improved. Coach Brendan Flaherty will have some big challenges ahead of him.

New Coaches:

The OAA has several new coaches coming into the league this fall. Scott Merchant (Bloomfield Hills,) James Carlisle (Avondale,) Donovan Jackson (Ferndale,) and Trevor Potts (Oxford) are the new coaches in the league. Merchant comes to Bloomfield Hills from Lawrence Tech (College Football) and was at Chippewa Valley for a long time and his son is in the program. Carlisle comes to Auburn Hills from the thumb area (Vassar) and was at Imlay City. Jackson was on the staff at Detroit Cass Tech and played at Ferndale so he’s really familiar with the city. Potts was the defensive coordinator under Coach Zach Line at Oxford. He was also an assistant at Adams under Coach Tony Patritto. Every coach is going to have different challenges to adjust to this season.

Weaknesses:

Every team in the OAA has glaring weaknesses heading into the season that they will need to address. It should be really interesting to see how each team addresses their weaknesses this summer before each team heads into their week one matchups. My goal this summer is to talk to every coach including the Waterford Schools and see how everyone is doing heading into the season on my podcast.

Waterford Schools lurking:

Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott will join the OAA this winter while North Farmington and Farmington will depart the OAA joining the Lakes Valley Conference next season. The Waterford schools will have one more fall in the Lakes Valley Conference before coming into the league. Waterford Mott will have a new football coach in Tra’Jan Seay taking over the program for Chris Fahr who is the defensive coordinator at Davison. Seay was an assistant at Orchard Lake St. Marys last season so he brings that to Waterford. He will have an transition period which has to happen during the season. The Corsairs did not make the postseason going 3-5 and has a ton of questions in the Lakes Valley Conference this season. Waterford Kettering went 3-6 but was one win away from making the postseason for first year coach Brian Barnes. Barnes has done a really good job with the Captains in his second season with the program. The postseason is within reach for Waterford Kettering but getting there will be the challenge especially in Division Three.

Divisions:

Here are the divisions heading into this season in the league, not in any particular order.

Red: Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Adams, West Bloomfield.

White: Stoney Creek, Harper Woods, Groves, Rochester, Southfield Arts and Tech.

Blue: Bloomfield Hills, Oak Park, Seaholm, North Farmington, Farmington, Troy, Troy Athens.

Gold: Pontiac, Ferndale, Avondale, Berkley, Royal Oak.

Football Storylines Around the League to watch this summer

Basketball Top Storylines Around the League this offseason

by | Apr 21, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Basketball Top Storylines Around the League this offseason.

Written Sunday April 20th at 11:08 AM

Happy Easter OAA Nation. We are officially in the offseason for girls and boys basketball and AAU season is underway. Here are the top storylines heading into next season for both girls and boys basketball.

Will the OAA be represented at Breslin next season???

This question could be answered in June when the MHSAA releases the basketball districts. The league in girls has a ton of solid teams heading into next season but it comes down to proximity that could create the best path if anyone has a shot at getting to the Breslin Center next season. In the boys there really isn’t a dominant team and it was really disastrous for the league with only three teams getting out of the districts last season. Could this be Ferndale’s best chance to make it back to East Lansing after two dominating years by Warren Lincoln??? They fell to Detroit Pershing in the district semifinals but the Eagles might have the league’s best chance to get back to Breslin. As mentioned the question could be answered when the MHSAA releases the districts in June.

Coaching vacancies.

There has been several vacancies to watch this offseason. The changeover surrounding Stoney Creek has been really fascinating. The Cougars recently let go boys basketball coach Jeff Olind which who takes over the job will be their third coach in four years. There is talent and proven experience but whoever takes the job is going to have a daunting task ahead of them and behind the scenes has been a complete mess. Coaches Joe Sermo and Terrance Porter has stepped down at their respective schools (Berkley, Southfield Arts and Tech.) Both schools are really appeasing when it comes to talent and program strength. In the girls, the Ferndale girls basketball job is open but whoever takes that job will have a huge challenge ahead of them when it comes to building program strength.

Coming and Going.

Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott are reentering into the league for the first time since 2008 this winter. Waterford Kettering has a new coach in Rex Walters with an very experienced team coming back and could be the early favorite in the Gold this season. Waterford Mott made it to the regional finals under Coach Jeff Jayson but they will have to replace several players from last season’s team. Waterford in the girls will be really interesting to keep an eye on led by returning guard Savannah Sartorius for Coach Andrew Wellman. On the flip side it will be the Farmington schools (North Farmington and Farmington) final year in the OAA as they will depart for the Lakes Valley Conference in 2026-2027. Farmington and North Farmington are loaded with proven talent and experience in the boys and they are in the Red. In the girls Farmington and North Farmington should be much improved after having rough seasons.

Divisions for 2025-2026 season.

Here are the divisions for the 2025-2026 season, not in any particular order.

Boys:

Red: Clarkston, Avondale, Groves, North Farmington, Farmington, Ferndale, West Bloomfield.

White: Lake Orion, Oxford, Adams, Rochester, Stoney Creek, Waterford Mott.

Blue: Troy, Troy Athens, Seaholm, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Pontiac.

Gold: Berkley, Southfield Arts and Tech, Oak Park, Harper Woods, Ferndale University, Waterford Kettering.

 

Girls:

Red: Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Stoney Creek, West Bloomfield, Rochester.

White: Groves, Seaholm, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Avondale, Berkley.

Blue: Troy, Troy Athens, Adams, Southfield Arts and Tech, Harper Woods, Ferndale.

Gold: Oak Park, Ferndale University, Farmington, North Farmington, Pontiac, Waterford.

Stay tuned to the blog and OAA Now for updates