There is nothing more beautiful than a fresh snowfall in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The wintry scenery in the area is breathtaking. Now is the time for all winter sports enthusiasts to be outdoors doing their favorite things. Snowshoeing has become very popular, as well as cross-country skiing. Those who enjoy ice skating might have to wait a little longer for the ice to become safe to skate on. Winter enthusiasts also love to ride their snowmobiles. Soon we will be hearing the roar of the snowmobiles, a great sound in the winter. Whichever sport is your favorite, enjoy.

Coach Sarah Adams and Assistant Coach Josh Adams are proud of the DeTour High girls basketball team. Captains for the 2007-08 season are Morgan Fierek, Jessie McClellan, and Sabrina Tomlinson. Team members include Abby Stocking, Nicole Melcer, Kiah Barbeaux, and Sammi Burtt. Plan to attend the next home game for the girls Saturday, January 19, with Vanderbilt.

Coach Craig Miller, Coach Rob Anderson, and Assistant Coach Alex Fisher are kept busy with the DeTour Raiders boys basketball team. Team members are Scott Davis, Tyler Anderson, T.J. Geisler, Kaleb Barbeaux, Teryn Miller, Ian Burton, Andy Dyal, Mathias Kristensen, Nathan Klamerus, Josh Wilson, Darell Plont, Zach Melvin. Plan to attend the next home game with Pickford Friday, January 25. Go, Raiders!

The DeTour Village Council met December 10, 2007. The following are excerpts from that meeting.

The much sought-after "Carr property grant" has come through for the Village in the amount of $495,000, through the efforts of Bill and Claire Schultz and Terry Nelson. They applied for a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant to buy Lynn Carr's property along the Village waterfront on the DeTour Passage. The Department of Natural Resources administers trust fund grants for either development or public acquisition of lands for resource protection and public outdoor recreation. The fund comes from royalties on the sale and lease of state-owned mineral rights. The DeTour grant was also reported in The St. Ignace News January 3. DeTour Village Clerk Linda Fisher estimates it was the third application for a grant to buy the property. DeTour received the $495,000 acquisition grant buy 800 feet of property along the passage. The village wants to develop the property as a recreation area for kayaking, fishing, and other activities that will be enhanced by a boardwalk, dock, and picnic area.

The property will also be an endpoint on the North Huron Scenic Pathway, a non-motorized route that will link eight municipalities between the Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace to DeTour Village.

The route will continue on Drummond Island, when hikers and bicyclers cross the DeTour Passage to the island.

Mrs. Schultz proposed the village enter into a purchase and sale agreement with the property's owner, Lynn Carr, to secure the property so that it doesn't get sold out from beneath the village. A motion was passed to move forward with the purchase and sale agreement.

A motion was approved to pass a resolution appointing Bruce Glupker, Rob Bloch, and Gary Dudeck as the Streetscape Committee. This group will work together with Michigan Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, Cloverland Electric Cooperative, and Mike Pond of Michigan State University's Small Towns Design Initiative to obtain information about rules and regulations, future plans, and how to proceed with the project.

Mr. Glupker suggested a system is needed to deal with ordinance violations in the Village, particularly "run-down" properties with blight. The Village Council discussed the possibility of authorizing the Planning Commission to take a non-enforcement approach with property owners who are in violation. It will discuss the idea in future meetings.

Jeff Galarowic has passed all state exams to qualify him to be named Superintendent of the Water and Sewer department. Former superintendent Bob Trudo will stay on as backup for one more year, with his health insurance paid as compensation.

A Michigan Works student will be considered for next summer to do the grass cutting and trimming in the Village.

The above excerpts are as recorded by Linda Fisher, village clerk.

A thought: Children learn three ways: by example, by example, by example.