 State Representative Joseph Fox (far right) helping out at a recent ribbon cutting for the Birding Trail, the latest addition to the area's recreational offerings Pictured with him from left are Newaygo County Tourism Council President Julie Burrell and Newaygo County Administrator Chris Wren One of two in the House to oppose recreational initiatives
In 1984 the Legislature enacted the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Act established in the State Constitution and providing for not less than 25% to acquire land or rights in land and not less than 25% for the development of public recreation facilities. The MDNR Trust Fund money comes from gas and oil leases and royalties on State land. It was created in a vote by Michigan residents through Proposal B, which amended the State Constitution. Since 2011, it has been solely funded by the interest and earnings of the invested funds that are managed by the Department of Treasury. It has been a boon for public recreation with grants available to units of government and recreational authorities from $15,000 to $300,000 with a 25% match required. The grant applications are reviewed and scored by DNR staff and the Independent MNRTF Board makes recommendations in December for the coming year. Locally, the Trust Fund grants over the years have led to improvements at Sandy Beach, support in the building of The Dragon Trail, expansion at the Bridgeton Boat Launch, development at Fremont parks, additions to the Coolbaugh Natural Area and many other projects aimed at enhancing our recreational opportunities As these approved projects are funded by the Trust Fund and do not rely on money from the state’s coffers, the recommendations from the independent committee are overwhelmingly approved by both parties when they reach the Legislature. This year the vote was 104-2. One of the two dissenters was our area’s State Representative Joseph Fox. Curious as to what the reasoning might be behind his half of the Nays, we reached out to Rep. Fox posing that question. We have not had a response in the week since our request. Should we hear from him we will pass along his comments
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 By Ken DeLaat While I have tried to stay away from commenting on my beloved Tigers, this weekend has unleashed the pent-up emotions a true dyed in the wool Tiger fan is going through these days They dropped three in a row to those damned Guardians. Side Note: It remains amazing in a way to me how the national sports media continues to downplay the team that has consistently been atop the W-L records in all of the majors. They have been dominant in many ways and while many of their current sparkling stats will undoubtedly return to Earth soon, they have, thus far, been at the forefront of the measures used to rate the quality of teams. But here’s my Tiger moment. That team from Cleveland (still despise Casey Blake) has been a bane for many years and knocked us out of the playoffs last season. They were on the cusp of a sweep, a 4 day meltdown for the home team and a chance to crawl within a couple games of our frontrunners. Enter Tarik Skubal. What does an ace do? He shuts it down. He stops the streak, pulls the plug on the sweep and reminds doubters that the holder of the Cy Young award is still here and still stepping up to toss a blistering complete game 2 hitter that says to his team, “Get me a run. Maybe 2. Then climb on my back and watch us win.” That’s Jack Morris stuff. I love this team. All the grit from last year and a couple of pieces to help. We got Vierling back and Meadows is waiting in the wings. And forget about a lengthy collapse with Skubal prowling the mound every 5th game. He’s the best pitcher I’ve seen in a Tiger uni since JV was painting the corners. It's a long season. There are further injuries, unfortunate streaks and puzzling lapses ahead. But man this team, as we said early on, is a whole lot of fun. I’m heading down to Motown for a few games and will be following this collection of clutch performers and players who seem to have transcended the desire for personal stats and traded it in for W’s. It is truly a good time to be a Motown enthusiast. Go Tigers! Newaygo: The Nott Takes a Bow... TGIF- Traffic Gets Insane on Fridays... An Early End to Bridgework5/23/2025  By Ken DeLaat It seems there’s a New Kid in Town that goes by the name of Newaygo Old Town Tavern (a.k.a. “The Nott”). Apparently, there’s a bit of a ‘soft’ opening today (“We are Open and We’re Nott”) and what better time than the Friday when it seems somewhere near half of our southern neighbors are driving through. If you recall the wonderful little destination shoppe of culinary craftsmanship known as Gala Gourmet, The Nott has set up residence in this downtown site and they’re looking to provide “Old Newaygo charm serving up warm food and cold drinks with an inviting atmosphere for all” I’m personally intrigued by the Old Newaygo charm part, being an older Newaygo person. That is, if 28 years qualifies as residency. Oh, and there’s a billiard hall. I’ve always had a fondness for bars with pool tables. During younger years in Grand Rapids many hours were spent in places like Snug Harbor and the Last Chance with a group of friends competing with each other on the tables, arguing about sports and knocking down cheap beer. This is outstanding news, a fine addition to the food/drink/entertainment landscape of the downtown area. And seeing that classic building come to life again is a huge bonus. So here’s a huge welcome to The Nott. See you soon. And in the meantime…. Rack ‘em. One of the cool things about living north of our Metro neighbors and the cities and towns extending to the Chicago area and beyond is Friday afternoons in the summer. The caravan of cars, trucks and motor homes hauling trailers, campers, boats, bikes, and 4 wheelers, who pack it up and make the trip to the place we get to live in all the time. Of course, many travel far beyond the Near North and yet our local campgrounds are regularly filled, the local lakes get a lot of action, our eateries see a significant uptick in diners and the grocery stores are filled with the 3-4 item folks scoring some combination of beer, pop, hot dog buns, graham crackers marshmallows, chocolate bars, charcoal, etc. Friday, as we approached the kick-off-to-summer Memorial Day Weekend, was certainly no exception as I found myself coming through town from the north.They were lined up far beyond the crest of the hill and about even with the Little Mitten Landscape building (shameless plug for LM). And it wasn't even 3pm yet It reminded me of years ago when we lived in Manistee. A friend and I spent a summer evening sitting on a deck from which US 31 could be seen in the distance. On Fridays it was jammed with people crawling their way north. “You know why all those people are so anxious to get up here where we live?” he said. “It’s the way they feel when they’re up here. They’re out of the city or suburbs and it’s slower, quieter, and prettier. While up here they’ll talk about how nice it would be to move up here, but they mostly don’t.” Then he paused and said, “And you know, that’s not all bad for the rest of us.” Speaking of traveling through Newaygo, I don' t imagine anyone is disappointed that the bridge work on 37 has been wrapped up. Kudos to the crew who performed the work. When the announcement of the project was made local social media (LSM) drew all the folks who love to get angry about such things, questioning the need and if needed the likelihood of errors made previously. Of course, the theories abounded as they do these days. But I’m looking at our article announcing the project and the end date is June 27th. https://www.nearnorthnow.com/news/m-37-bridge-repairs-in-newaygo-start-march-24. And while certain this was a worst-case scenario? It didn't happen. More than a month early and saving us the possibility of Friday traffic this weekend backed up to around Bailey. Happy Summer, all. I’ve heard the weather is on a 60-day gradual warming trend. "Spring flew swiftly by, and summer came; and if the village had been beautiful at first, it was now in the full glow and luxuriance of its richness.- Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist   To The Editor: Information on the Average tax change from the TCJA permanency act. (please notice the word permanency, they want it to be forever): In 2026 in Michigan, If you are among the poorest, the 20%, you make less than $27,900, your tax break will be $90 a year. If you are in the second 20% , you make $27,900 to $52,900, your tax break will be $450 a year. If you are in the third 20%, you make $32,900 to $90,800, your tax break will be $930. If you’re in the fourth 20th%, you make $90,800-$151,200, your tax break will be $1600. If you’re in the next 15%, you make $151,200-$306,800, your tax break will be $3050. If you’re in the next 4%, you make $306,800-$751,900. Your tax break will be $9780. If you are among the richest 1 percent of our state, you make $751,900 and more, your tax break is $35,970. Noticed the huge differences? Where are you on this scale? (this information can be found at the institute on taxation and economic policy, ITEP.org) These tax cuts will affect: Medicare services to seniors in two primary ways. The lowest income seniors, dual eligible, can also be enrolled in Medicare and have their cost sharing paid by Medicaid and others requiring long-term care services and supports and may be enrolled in Medicaid, which pays for nursing home care for five out of eight residents. (CKFF, Medicaid in United States, August 2024). Already the 2017 Trump GOP tax law made it so corporations pay lower marginal tax rate than workers making $45,000 a year. Fair? The time on this law has almost run out but this administration wants to enlarge it and continue. This administration wants to get their pain filled Budget reconciliation bill passed before Memorial Day. Call your members of congress, find at congress.gov and type in your address today and often and let them know how you, family or neighbors will be impacted. Our stores are important. Or just call and tell them to vote NO! And pass these truths along. Valerie Deur To The Editor: With the constant stream of breaking news from the White House, it can be tempting to disengage, especially when feelings of helplessness set in. But in these moments, it’s crucial to remember that We the People do have power. It is not only our right but our responsibility to speak out, particularly when the consequences directly impact our own communities. The looming Congressional budget bill includes proposed cuts to Medicaid that would affect approximately 750,000 people in Michigan alone. These cuts would drastically reduce access to essential services such as mental health care, autism support, adult foster care, and preventive medical treatment. Without preventative care, more individuals will wait until they are seriously ill, increasing reliance on emergency departments,services that are both more expensive and less efficient. Rural hospitals, in particular, depend heavily on Medicaid funding. If that funding disappears, so might the hospitals and specialty services that many communities rely on. Our former Congressman Huizenga told me that healthcare is a privilege, not a right, as if the people who qualify for Medicaid are somehow less deserving of care. But the reality is, the majority of those on Medicaid are children, seniors, and working individuals, our neighbors, family members, and friends. Many work multiple part-time jobs and still fall below the threshold for adequate health coverage. Regardless of political affiliation, we should all be able to agree on this: every member of our community deserves access to basic, humane healthcare. Please take a moment to call Congressman John Moolenaar at 202-225-3561 and remind him that protecting Medicaid is not about politics it’s about people. Michelle Petz  By Ken DeLaat Well it looks like we have a new Parks guy in place as Asa Vermeulen takes the reins at the burgeoning array of recreational options that is Newaygo County Parks. Good timing. The ever popular campgrounds are about to be inundated with all those people who make it a point to travel to our county for a short stay in this wonderful slice of our bi-peninsular paradise. Always makes me think about the times spent travelling to one of those really cool places, the locales that make you ponder, “I wonder what it’s like to live here full time?” And here we are. Smack dab in a destination spot for the droves of fun lovers seeking to enjoy what our natural resources offer. Beyond campers there are the cyclists and hikers who are drawn to the magic of The Dragon, the fishing fanatics who will soon see a new marina the county is resurrecting on the site of an old one, the kayakers and tubers who fill the river on weekends, and now a new birding trail to draw the rather amazing amount of birders (It is estimated there are over 2 million in the state) to our prime birding sites (nearly 40). And so, welcome to our county Asa Vermeulen. I believe you’ll find the folks here in the Near North to be a friendly bunch, always eager to help. And nearly all the answers to questions you might have can be found at any one of those long tables filled with coffee drinking men that pop up around mid morning at several local restaurants. Pickleballers can relax a bit now that the Fremont Rec Center has been gifted with 10 years of support after the recent millage was approved for continuation. Kudos to the city and the 2 townships that came through this time around. The Rec Center has established themselves as a vital entity in the community and will likely continue to thrive, particularly if pickleball continues its meteoric rise in popularity. It seems that the Medicaid cuts that have been banged around by politicians and the media who cover them are looking to be more and more inevitable. I truly hope not. The cuts being bantered about would have a devastating effect on our county in ways that would reach much deeper than simply reducing medical coverage. The ripple effect would touch everyone in one way or another. Stoking anecdotal references to how the money is misused is designed to tap into old attitudes about welfare. Like others who have spent many years working in human service agencies there is an awareness of how vital the services provided are and how far reaching the effects can be. It is time to show some compassion for the less fortunate. Cutting medical coverage to an already vulnerable population is unconscionable. If you agree, call Rep Moolenaar’s office and let him know. If you don’t agree? Be prepared for the profound changes on the horizon that are likely to negatively impact the quality of life for far more of us than just those who lose their insurance coverage.
Police Week Newaygo May 11 - 17, 2025
A Resolution adopted by the City of Newaygo City Council on May 13, 2019, declares every calendar week in which May 15th falls as "Police Week Newaygo" In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officer Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls as National Police Week. National Policy Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. In 2004 the City of Newaygo established Marshall Memorial Park to memorize Trooper Kevin Marshall. In 2019 Headstones were placed in the Marshall Memorial Park honoring and memorizing all fallen Police Officer from Newaygo County: Village Marshal Benjamin Carpenter; end of watch July 23, 1963, Deputy Gerald Kandler; end of watch June 12, 1998, Trooper Kevin Marshall end of watch July 7, 2003, Trooper Paul Butterfield; end of watch September 9, 2013. Since 1776, there have been 26,959 know line of duty deaths in the United States of America, including 672 in Michigan and 4 in Newaygo County. Michigan's and specifically Newaygo County's fallen officers will never be forgotten, nor their service to their respective communities. By choosing to commit themselves to law enforcement, these brave individuals answered the call for service and willingly put their lives in jeopardy. We commend them for recognizing law enforcement as a noble career, and protecting the public safety, and also of those who are currently serving for the safety and security of their communities. We publicly salute the service of law enforcement officers in our Newaygo County community as well as those of our State and Nation. Keep Safe and Be Blessed Mayor Ed Fedell City of Newaygo  Julie Tatko By Julie Tatko, CEO, Family Health Care At Family Health Care, we are deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to the Medicaid program. We are particularly concerned about our patients, 46 percent of whom receive their health insurance through Medicaid. Patients qualify for Medicaid coverage for various reasons, including being a child, in foster care, working at a minimum-wage job, employed in a job that doesn’t offer insurance, being disabled and unable to work, or being a student. People insured by Medicaid are our neighbors, and they deserve quality healthcare. Our members of Congress have promised that there will be no cuts to the program, and people in need of Medicaid will continue to receive it. At the same time, they are expressing an openness to work requirements. Based on experiences in other states that have work requirements, we are concerned for our patients that our legislators are considering this strategy. Work requirements are problematic for several reasons. First, most people who are insured through Medicaid are either working or are unable to work due to disability, caretaking responsibilities, significant illnesses, or pregnancy. Excluding those who are unable to work, 92 percent of Medicaid enrollees are already employed. Second, work requirements fail to keep people insured and create additional expenses for states. Work requirements were voluntarily implemented in Arkansas, New Hampshire, and Georgia. In each of these cases, they were highly successful in driving up the costs to states for implementation and pushing people out of Medicaid, leaving them uninsured and without access to healthcare. Additionally, work requirements impose significant paperwork burdens on patients themselves. Lastly, if there are significant reductions in Medicaid expenditures, it means people will lose coverage. The House of Representatives is currently pushing for $880 billion in spending cuts through the committee that oversees Medicaid and Medicare. The Congressional Budget Office has stated that the only way to achieve those kinds of savings from the budget is by making significant cuts to Medicaid. You can call it whatever you want, but work requirements are cuts to the Medicaid program. A cut by any other name is still a cut. Family Health Care serves approximately 23,000 unduplicated patients annually at clinics located in Baldwin, Big Rapids, Cadillac, Evart, Grant, McBain, Reed City, and White Cloud. The clinics offer access to affordable medical, dental, behavioral health, vision, laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy services. 
A Letter From the Editors
Is a protest rally news? When we posted a story on the recent Fremont rally we included photos of the event as well as comments from those in attendance. We knew that in an area where 7 of every 10 voters cast their ballots for the current administration the protest likely gave them pause and given the number of Trump signs that have remained in sight nearly 6 months beyond the election many may have found it distressing. But isn’t it worthy of reporting on? In recent weeks we have stopped allowing comments on our fb page’s news or public opinion pieces due to the inevitable dumpster fire of vitriolic squabbles hellbent on a futile quest for oneupmanship that never arrives. We do, of course, allow comments on our site but find it interesting that most would prefer to limit their opinions to attempts at cleverness on social media. If you look through the comment section of our Public Pulse section you’ll see some dialogue between people with differing opinions but it never gets to the nastiness that forced our hand in eliminating random fb commentary. We've been called biased, fake news and prejudicial and while we indeed strive to stay out of advancing the divisiveness we’re all forced to live with these days, there are news items we feel strongly about. We will not hesitate to call out elected officials when they may choose to evade accountability to their constituents, nor will we shy away from topics that remain contentious. Our purpose in existing is to enlighten, engage, and encourage dialogue. To let people know what’s going on in our area and bring the community a variety of viewpoints. We also welcome opinions via letters to the editor. This entails all opinions, so long as they are deemed appropriate and delivered with a way to contact the writer for verification. It has always been our hope to encourage productive discourse. True dialogue, not the churlish prattle that accompanies most social media reactions. Well thought out commentary is certainly more impactful than the timidity of a laughter emoji slapped onto posts one disagrees with. We hope to hear from you but if not, that’s ok as well. If we didn't piss people off from time to time we likely wouldn't be doing our job. Despite the likelihood that we have lost a few readers along the way our numbers have continued to grow and that gives us hope that the majority of the community isn’t afraid of hashing out a bit of controversy now and again. And apparently we’re not shy about delivering it. Alexis Mercer Editor Ken DeLaat Publisher  Indivisible Newaygo County (INC) is calling for community action around Food Security on Saturday, April 19. Gathering from 12noon to 2pm, the public is welcomed to meet in front of City Hall in downtown Newaygo before peacefully walking the sidewalks handing out information and collecting donations for local food services. The Rally for Food Security will bring attention to Federal cuts in funding for food and agricultural programs that are affecting local food pantries as well as farmers. INC members will collect donations of non-perishable food items that will be given to local food pantries, as well as funds that will go to NCRESA Great Start for their community garden projects. Funds collected will also be donated to Indivisible Newaygo County’s “Victory Garden Initiative.” This Garden Initiative encourages community members to grow vegetables that can help stretch food budgets, and provide families with fresh and healthy nutrition at their doorstep. This spring the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) was mandated to cut funding. This led to the cancellation of $1 billion in Federal funding for local food purchases through the Local Food for Schools and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement programs. Newaygo County’s local food pantries are feeling the pinch of decreased food and funds. Feeding America West Michigan states that more than half of the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program’s truckloads of food ordered from the USDA for April through July have been cancelled. That amounts to 32 semi-trailer loads of protein and fresh dairy that were planned for distribution to hundreds of communities in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. (Feeding American West Michigan, March 26, 2025). Sudden funding cuts are impacting local farmers as well. A USDA program that provided funds to purchase food for pantries from local farmers will end on Sept. 30. And several West Michigan farmers have lost funds that assisted with labor costs and farm improvements even after the farms met their obligations and spent their own money, leaving them with thousands of dollars of unintended debt. Farmers also fear that current and proposed tariffs will impact costs of fertilizer and agricultural equipment, and decrease or eliminate their sales of products such as soy beans to international markets. (Bridge Michigan, March 2025). The April 19 “Day of Action” was initiated by the 50501 organization, and encourages communities and organizations to come together in support of local needs and issues. Indivisible Newaygo County chose Food Insecurity as the focus of this event due to the number of families in Newaygo County that depend on food assistance through SNAP, school breakfast and lunch programs, and food pantries. To receive information about Indivisible Newaygo County events, email: [email protected]. |
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