![]() Eco-Challenge returns in October Newaygo Nationals Association and Newaygo Fitness Club today announced a partnership in delivering the popular 2DamTuff Eco-Challenge, scheduled for October 7th, 2017. Newaygo Fitness Club will serve as the official training and sign-up location for the annual event. “We realized the need to increase the training, supervision, and the overall energy of this amazing event, which is in it’s second season” stated Gabriel Slominski, Chairman of Newaygo Nationals Association. “Newaygo Fitness Club has a great local reputation and has a fitness, stewardship, and a transformational vision that integrates well with NNA’s Mission”. The 2Dam Tuff Eco-Challenge in an annual, multi-disciplinary outdoor athletic event designed to attract visiting competitors by leveraging the unique natural resource base of Newaygo County and the Muskegon River Valley Watershed. 2DamTuff™ utilizes both Croton and Hardy Dams, the Muskegon River, The Edge Pathway System of Newaygo County, and private property owned by Consumers Energy. 2DamTuff™ has been designed to give competitors a unique race experience that includes obstacles, running, biking, and paddlesports that can’t be reproduced at any other location in the world. “We are excited to serve Newaygo County and beyond in this new capacity”, stated Lucas Gross, owner of Newaygo Fitness Club. “We will be supplying dozens of event volunteers, holding 2DT classes for highly specific training for the event, and recruiting at least 50-100 athletes at all levels to compete in 2DamTuff. We will do our part to help make Newaygo County the healthiest County in the State of Michigan”. Interested parties may stop by Newaygo Fitness Club at 8843 Mason Drive (M37) in Newaygo to learn more, sign up for classes, and sign up for the 2DamTuff event on site at a discounted rate of $59/person.. Newaygo Nationals Association is a Michigan 501(c) 3 Not-for-profit corporation. Annual Perseid meteor shower August 11-12
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites visitors and campers to catch a view of the Perseid meteor shower during "Meteors & S'mores" in participating Michigan state parks Aug. 11-12. Day-use visitors and campers at participating state parks are encouraged to bring blankets, seating, bug spray and snacks and enjoy a night of stargazing. Participating parks will stay open later than their normal closing times. Complimentary s’mores and campfires are part of the celebration. Designated viewing areas and viewing times will be specified at each park. "Many consider themselves lucky if they catch a shooting star, but the Perseid meteor shower is one of the best opportunities to see them with the naked eye," said Elissa Buck, a DNR event coordinator. "We encourage those who want to catch magnificent views with fellow parkgoers take part in one of these Meteors & S'mores events." The calendar of events can be found online at michigan.gov/darksky and also is listed below.
Dark Sky Preserves are protected against light pollution and are ideal locations for stargazing. Here in Michigan, six state-designated Dark Sky Preserves are located at Lake Hudson Recreation Area, Negwegon State Park, Port Crescent State Park, Rockport Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Wilderness State Park. In addition, Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers excellent night sky viewing opportunities across more than 15,000 square miles. Learn more at michigan.gov/darksky. Camp under the starsTo take full advantage of the meteor showers that are estimated to take place Aug. 9-16, visitors are encouraged to make camping reservations throughout the week and sleep under the stars. To check camping availability in state parks and make a reservation, visit www.midnrreservations.com or call 1-800-44PARKS. For more information about these events, contact Elissa Buck at bucke@michigan.gov or 989-313-0000. ![]() The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that the application period for antlerless deer licenses opens Saturday, July 15, and runs through Aug. 15. Hunters may apply for one license in any open Deer Management Unit (DMU) statewide; a nonrefundable $5 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may choose to apply for either one private-land or one public-land license online at E-License or at any authorized license agent or DNR Customer Service Center. Young hunters, ages 9-16, can purchase one junior antlerless deer license over the counter July 15-Aug.15. No application is required. A 9-year-old must be 10 by Sept. 26 to purchase this license. Any leftover antlerless deer licenses not issued in the drawing will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. EDT, until license quotas are met. Antlerless deer license quotas for each DMU can be found at mi.gov/deer. Please note, DMU 333 has unlimited antlerless licenses that may be purchased without application beginning Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. Drawing results and leftover license availability may be viewed at mi.gov/deer, beginning Aug. 28. For additional information, the 2017 Antlerless Deer Digest is available online at mi.gov/dnrdigests. Hunters also are reminded that the Michigan Natural Resources Commission expanded the Core Chronic Wasting Disease Area to include 20 townships. This area, which will continue to be referred to as DMU 333, now will consist of Danby and Portland townships in Ionia County; Lansing, Meridian, Williamstown, Delhi, Alaiedon and Wheatfield townships in Ingham County; DeWitt, Bath, Watertown, Eagle, Westphalia, Riley, Olive and Victor townships in Clinton County; Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County; and Roxand, Oneida and Delta townships in Eaton County. An additional Core CWD Area (DMU 359) has been created to include Mecosta, Austin, Morton, Hinton, Aetna and Deerfield townships in Mecosta County and Cato, Winfield and Reynolds townships in Montcalm County. To learn more about chronic wasting disease, visit mi.gov/cwd. The DNR also reminds hunters that they can purchase $5 Pure Michigan Hunt applications anywhere licenses are sold. Hunters may buy as many applications as they would like. Three lucky winners will get prize packages that include elk (Michigan residents only), bear, deer and turkey licenses; first pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area; plus firearms, crossbows and much more – a prize package worth over $4,000. For more information, visit mi.gov/pmh. ![]() Golfers can now register for the White Cloud Rotary’s 65th Annual Golf-O-Ree event. WHITE CLOUD – It's once again time for the White Cloud Rotary Club Golf-O-Ree to be held Friday, August 11th. In the event’s 65th year, the Village Green Golf Course in Newaygo will host the Golf-O-Ree. The event will feature an array of activities before, during and after golfing from raffle and giveaway prizes, including many golf packages, along with mulligans, and contests at every hole; including closest to the pin, and longest drive for men and women. The two-person scramble begins with a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m., with sign-in beginning at 8:00 a.m. The golfer registration fee is $60 on or before July 31, and $70 after, and includes a cart, 18-holes, snacks, BBQ chicken lunch and giveaways. The White Cloud Rotary Club Golf-O-Ree is one of the longest running golf events in Newaygo County. The proceeds from the event support the Club’s good works, including; a student scholarship fund, life leadership youth training, the children’s circus, the pavilion at Raceway Park, and other community projects. To register, interested golfers can call Julia Bird (231) 225-2050 or sign-up with any White Cloud Rotary member. White Cloud Rotary is a volunteer organization, encouraging the model of ‘Service Above Self’ and the advancement of high ethical standards, goodwill and civic responsibility. The club meets every Wednesday starting 11:45 a.m. at Hitts the Spot in White Cloud. Joe Berger Gives Back to Community
By Alexis Mercer More than 300 kids ranging from Kindergarten to 8th grade excitedly lined up at Newaygo High School’s practice football field on the morning of Wednesday, June 28th, ready to meet Joe Berger and participate in a football camp. Joe Berger, a 2000 graduate of Newaygo High School, is about to start his 13th season in the NFL. He was drafted in 2005 by the Carolina Panthers, and played with the Dolphins, Cowboys after that. Since 2011 he has been with the Minnesota Vikings, playing multiple positions on the offensive line. According to NFL.com, Berger has started 68 games and played in 129. For this, the 3rd year of the camp, Berger brought teammate and friend Jeremiah Sirles along with him. Sirles was an undrafted rookie free agent in 2014 and ended that season as a starter for the San Diego Chargers. He was then traded to the Vikings in 2015, where he now plays as an guard and tackle on the offensive line. It wasn’t difficult to pick out the two NFL players in a sea of people on the field. Berger, at 6’5”, and Sirles, at 6’6”, circled the field encouraging the athletes and jumping in to a few of the drills. The camp, inspired by football, but more to encourage kids of all ages to be athletically active, was a giant success. More than 300 kids running, jumping, throwing, kicking and enjoying themselves was a true sight. Kids were grouped by ages and spent the morning rotating through drills. An hour and a half in to the day, Sirles stood in front of all camp participants and talked about his journey in the NFL as well as what the things he finds to be most important about being an athlete: doing well in school first and respecting yourself and those around you. “Respect will get you a long way,” he said to 300 attentive sets of ears. Student-athletes enjoyed a free lunch and got back out to the field for an afternoon of more fun. The day ended with Joe Berger handing out prizes, which all students who attended were eligible to receive. Four tickets to the Vikings/Lions game on Thanksgiving Day, footballs, gloves he wore in NFL games, a 24” television, bags, water bottles and more were all given away and Berger signed anything the students requested. Then Berger sat patiently for more than an hour signing pictures, t-shirts and taking pictures with the students. Joe Berger and Jeremiah Sirles are two of the best role models in the business. College graduates, family men, leaders on and off the field. While this may be Berger's last season in the NFL, as he has said it may be time to move on to other endeavors, these 300 fans will be cheering the loudest from Newaygo County. |