Wrestlers break from training to pose for a picture during a camp by Boudro Wrestling at Little Bear East Arena in St. Ignace from July 5 to July 10. Pictured (not in order) are Dylan Marshall, Austin Marshall, Tucker Sheperd, Glen Beardsley, Billy Bentgen, Matt Hough, Tyler Spencer, Jimmy Spencer, Micheal Davis, Bradley Hall, Logan Dekeyser, Chase Dekeyser, Daniel Marsh, Joe Krause, Glen Fleet, John Evasheski, Galloway Thurston, Joe Ostman, Wyatt Orm, Jessie Halberg, Jacob Shoop, Chad Mesnard, Instructors R.J Boudro, Paul Boudro, and Ben Boudro. Those looking at renting Little Bear East Arena for wedding receptions and other special events will have lower costs to consider, owing to a decision by the St. Ignace Recreation Advisory committee Wednesday, July 8.

The board, acting on a recommendation from Recreation Director Scott Marshall, voted to decrease the rate from $650 to $500 to rent the conference center portion of the facility for special events during evenings and weekends.

Mr. Marshall said the department has lost business recently to Kewadin Casino, which offers its reception hall free of charge if the party uses the casino's catering service.

Committee members also discussed the possibility of working with area hotels to offer special rates and packages to wedding parties,

something that the St. Ignace casino and its hotel also offers. Mr. Marshall said the department is looking into such cooperation with area hotels, but has no special rates set up yet.

In addition to reducing the rental rate, the staff at Little Bear East is also providing cleaning services after the events, something that was previously the responsibility of those renting the facility.

Mr. Marshall said these changes, along with the atmosphere at Little Bear East, could help the city stay competitive in the reception business.

"I think our main selling point here is that if they have it here, it's their moment," he said. The casino's larger hall has a less intimate atmosphere that some couples wouldn't want, he said.

Committee Chair Don Gustafson reminded everyone at the meeting that the reason rates are higher for special events like receptions than for meetings is because of the increased wear on the facility.

Summer Recreation

Program Updates

Committee members present Wednesday also received updates from Mr. Marshall on the soccer, swimming, and baseball programs and the basketball and wrestling tournaments to be held at the arena.

The bad news for the St. Ignace soccer program is that the number of participants is down about 20 youth from last year, although Mr. Marshall said he expects enrollment in the program to increase as the start of the season nears.

Positive changes for the program, according to Mr. Marshall, include the purchase of new nets, repairs to goalposts done by the Department of Public Works, three new fields for the younger age divisions, and changes in the divisions to make the program line up better with outside soccer leagues.

The first game for the soccer program is Tuesday, July 21, and eight game days are spread out on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the second week of August. The registration deadline has passed, but the recreation department said late registrations could still be accepted well into the season.

Physical improvements to the community swimming pool including a newly sandblasted floor, repairs to the roof, and repainted locker rooms. Repair work preceded the opening of the swimming season in June.

"It looks really nice," Mr. Marshall said. "We've had nothing but compliments."

The pool is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with open swimming until 9:30 a.m., swimming lessons from 10 a.m. to noon, and open swimming from noon to 3 p.m. Open swim will also be offered on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m.

The baseball program is beginning to wrap up its season, with the coach's pitch and junior leagues finished, and with the senior league heading into the playoffs.

Mr. Marshall said the Michigan Works! program has provided a handful of workers free of charge to community departments and organizations. Concession sales and other work at the baseball fields have been done by some of these workers.

"The program has helped us out a lot," Mr. Marshall said.

The basketball tournament formerly known as "Red Hacker" has a new name -- Little Bear All Star Shootout. It will be Saturday, July 18, near the arena. Naming this event is a result of the Recreation Department taking on more responsibility at the yearly tournament, Mr. Marshall said.

At the time of Wednesday's meeting, Mr. Marshall said registration was down about 10 teams from last year, at 55 currently signed up; 60 to 65 teams are expected to take part in the tournament.

As a cost-saving measure, he said the arena would purchase outdoor speakers for about $400 and use its own mixer and laptop computer to provide music instead of incurring the yearly $500 cost of bringing a company in to provide music for the event. Mr Marshall also said he would like to eventually take over the management of the tournament, a $1,000 cost that comes out of event proceeds.

A wrestling camp by Boudro Wrestling was hosted at Little Bear East Arena from July 5 to July 10, culminating in the Battle at the Bridge wrestling tournament Saturday, July 11. The camp saw about 180 wrestlers, 20 or 30 fewer than last year, many of whom were from the Detroit and Grand Rapids metropolitan areas.

"It was some really tough competition," Mr. Marshall said. "The tournament went very well."