Atlanta News

The Department of Natural Resources today announced the new boat launch at Tomahawk Creek Flooding State Forest Campground's West Unit has reopened for use.

Youth foundation sets award, fundraising dinner for Nov. 5 The Uplift Our Youth Foundation will sponsor its fifth annual grant award and fundraising dinner on Nov.

Fast-selling travel documents speed return from Canada, Mexico Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced today that the popular enhanced driver's license and state ID card now are available at the Atlanta and Mio branch offices.

David Lee Snover- age 75 of Lake, passed away on Thursday September 3, 2009 at Mid-Michigan Medical Center-Clare, after a long illness.A He was born on September 5, 1933, the son of Robert and BerniceA Snover A in Imlay City MI.A He was united in marriage to Patricia Butterfield on June 30, 1956 in Lake George.A A David loved antique tractors and ...

State Veterinarian Dr. Steven Halstead today announced the Michigan Department of Agriculture has extended the comment period for the proposed bovine Tuberculosis changes that will shrink the Modified Accredited Zone and affect all interstate and intrastate cattle and bison movement through September 8, 2009.

* Chris Andrews has joined Lansing-based Public Policy Associates Inc. as a senior editor. He previously worked for the Lansing State Journal. * Wendi Tilden has joined the Michigan Humanities Council in Lansing as development director. * Mulliken resident Debra Gearhart, of the Michigan Department of History, Arts & Libraries, Records Management Services, has been named president-elect of the Institute of Certified Records Managers, based in North Syracuse, N.Y. * The following have been elected to the Lansing-based Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan board: Courtney Minor, pres- ident; Velma Kyser, secretary; Angelia McGarry, treasurer; Camron Gnass, Ryan Henry and Mike Murshak, board members. * Carl Borchgrevink, associate professor of Michigan State University's School of Hospitality Business, has been named president of the Research Chefs Foundation in Atlanta. * Bill Hufnagel has been named vice president and manager of mortgage banking operations at East Lansing-based Summit Community Bank. Jerry Sambaer has been named chief financial officer of the division and Tim Sambaer has been named chief operating officer. * The following have received Michigan State University College of Human Medicine faculty and academic staff awards: E. James Potchen, Lifetime Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award; Susan Barman and William Wadland, Distinguished Faculty Awards; Dianne Singleton, Outstanding Clinician Award; Dilip Patel and Yakov Sigal, William B. Weil Jr. Endowed Distinguished Pediatric Faculty Award; Wanda Lipscomb, Lester J. Evans Distinguished Service Award; and William Short, Outstanding Community Faculty Award. * Delhi Township-based Two Men and a Truck International Inc. has been certified as a ProMover by Alexandria, Va.-based trade group American Moving & Storage Association. Business People items must be submitted by 5 p.m. Monday a week before publication. Information must be resubmitted for each week it's to be published. Send to Business Calendar, Lansing State Journal, 120 E. Lenawee St., Lansing, MI 48919; fax 377-1298; e-mail business@lsj.com.

I had great expectations of returning from our July 4th bass fishing trip to northern Michigan with enough fodder to spin off a half dozen columns.

The top 10 finalists for the "American Idol"-style show on Atlanta-based Gospel Music Channel's "Gospel Dream" includes three Georgia finalists: Ashli Marie Pritchett Hometown: Thomaston, GA Audition city: Atlanta Sixteen-year-old Ashli Marie counts Natalie Grant, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood as her musical influences.

ATLANTA, Mich. -- Sometime around 1970, a geography club marked a route across Michigan called the Polar-Equator Trail.' The Michigan Legislature declared it a major tourist attraction.

There is no simple route on Michigan's 45th Parallel -- unless you don't mind bypassing some of it.

45th Parallel acknowledgement: Michigan Dept. of Transportation sign on M-23 just south of town at Squaw Bay. The town's Latitudes Bar is a reference to the 45th degree latitude of the city. Attraction: The National Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is a splendid museum containing artifacts of sunken ships and a history of Great Lakes shipping. More than 200 sunken ships are in or near Thunder Bay near Alpena. (Free, 500 W. Fletcher, www.thunderbay.noaa.gov, 989-356-8805) Dining: John A. Lau Saloon, circa 1893. Steaks, fish, good deep-fried green beans, Michigan beer. Reputed to be haunted by a ghost, but I didn't see her. (414 N. Second, 989-354-6898) Lodging: Many small mom-and-pop spots like the 40 Winks Motel (1021 State, 989-354-5622), plus chains like Holiday Inn (1000 Hwy 23 N, www.holiday-inn.com, 989-358-6732). Tourist information: www.alpenacvb.com, 989-354-4181 45th Parallel acknowledgement: The only Michigan town whose downtown intersection, State Street (M-32), is virtually on the 45th Parallel. A few of the Polar-Equator Trail signs still stand on country roads nearby. Attraction: Known as the elk capital of Michigan, the town holds an Elk Festival every year, this year Sept. 25-27. Dining: Betty and Bucky's Family Dining (12545 State, 989-785-2695). Lodging: The Atlanta Motel is just down the street from the fishing pier (12520 State, www.theatlantamotel.com, 989-785-4509) Tourist information: www.atlantamichigan.com, 989-785-3400 45th Parallel acknowledgement: The south part of town near McCoy Road is on the 45th Parallel. Plus, everyone going Up North on I-75 passes the parallel sign just before the Gaylord exit. Also, there's a 45th Parallel wooden sign on Hayes-Tower Road west of town. Attraction: The city has its own elk herd in Elk Park, less than a mile from the 45th Parallel. You can best see it from the DPW lot or the Elks Club. (Seriously. It's true.) Dining: The Sugar Bowl, celebrating 90 years, is a town institution. Good whitefish and a cozy Up North ambiance (216 W. Main, 989-732-5524) Lodging: Many chain hotels near freeway, or the Royal Crest Motel (803 S. Otsego, www.royalcrestgaylord.com, 888-854-9252). Tourist information: www.gaylordmichigan.net, 800-345-8621 45th Parallel acknowledgement: The parallel marker is about half a mile north of the city limits. Attraction: Just northwest of town is the Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery, which sits exactly on the parallel: 'Experience the Latitude,' its ads proclaim, 'Located distinctly on the 45th Parallel' (8580 East Horn Road, www.fortyfivenorth.com, 231-271-1188). Dining: The 45th Parallel Cafe for breakfast or lunch (104 W. Broadway, www.45thfudge.com, 231-271-2233). Lodging: The Vineyard Inn that faces West Bay is just a few yards north of the parallel sign (1338 N. Pebble Beach, www.vininn.com, 231-941-7060). Tourist information: www.suttonsbayarea.com, 231-271-5077