Keweenaw ATV Club seeks trail designation

EAGLE RIVER – Off-road vehicle trails are a concern in the Keweenaw, and at a special meeting this month, more than 100 people came out to hear what representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources had to say about creating a designated trail system.

Rob Katona, trail analyst with the DNR in Marquette, said the public meeting was held in Eagle River to bring up a variety of issues with the general public, including use of the trails by riders, funding and the history of the Keweenaw trail system.

The Keweenaw ATV Club has been spearheading an initiative over the last few years to get approval from local land owners to use the vast terrain in Keweenaw County for ATV trail use. The club, searching for support from the DNR to become a designated trail system, contacted several landowners and received permission to establish 54 miles of trails.

“They’ve been trying to develop and manage a trail corridor up there,” Katona said.

About 100 people at the meeting voted in favor of the DNR’s help to secure grant funding for designating trails.

“We have a process so the county will be eligible for grant funding,” Katona said.

Many of the private landowners do not permit two-wheeled vehicles, such as dirt bikes, and a handful of attendees opposed that ban.

Ray Chase of the Keweenaw ATV Club said opposition comes from two-wheeled vehicle users, but in actuality, the users are permitted by a landowner requirement not put forth by the DNR or the ATV Club.

“The landowners put restrictions on what the use of those trails will be,” Chase said.

Many of the limitations and restrictions, which went into affect last fall, are due to insurance and liability reasons. In fact, it’s the ATV club that went to each landowner and provided insurance for the club. Because the Keweenaw trails are the first public trails system on public land, it requires a director’s order to enact rules and regulations, Chase said.

However, a majority of people are in support of the ORV trail system allowing ATVs, Katona said.

“The use is restricted,” Katona said. “A lot of private land owners do not permit operation of motorcycles on their property.”

Since the early 2000s, many hours and dedication from individuals has been put toward establishing ATV trails in the Keweenaw so locals and tourists have the opportunity to take advantage of the unique terrain.

“It takes a lot of dedication and time and effort for the club to move something like this through and get the support from landowners,” Katona said.

The DNR’s role is to administer the ORV and snowmobile programs in the state, while being more transparent by hosting meetings like the one held this month. If a local club or entity wants to have a designated trail eligible for funding, be it for restoration projects, maintenance or law enforcement, they turn to the DNR to administer the grants.

“We more or less manage that trail system when it gets to that point,” he said. “The partnership is important if you want to be eligible for funding. It’s important for having a sustainable trail system and a managed trail system where you can purchase signage and to help alleviate unwanted use. Otherwise, you’re doing it all on your own.”

Chase said he’s been negotiating with the DNR for years for trail designation and DNR approval is important for what the club would like to accomplish.

“The majority of the public was in favor of a director’s order to make this a full-fledged designated trail system,” he said.

Chase said state designated trails could include the 54 miles of trail mostly on private land from Calumet to Copper Harbor. There are also trails sponsored by the club they would eventually like to see in the system that travel from Lac La Belle to Gay and Eagle Harbor and to Eagle River.

“This first step is the 54 miles from Calumet to Copper Harbor,” he said.

Article source: http://www.mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/525234.html

Jackson County Circuit Court and Traffic Report

The following was reported by the Jackson County Circuit Court:

Sue E. Adank, 31, Independence, was fined $10 for ride in vehicle w/o wearing seat belt.

Harold Arndt, 53, Neillsville, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Juan D. Avinsanchez, 22, Auburndale, was fined $243 for operate w/o valid license (2nd w/in 3 yrs).

Rebecca L. Ayala, 35, Sparta, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended and $175.30 for operate after rev/susp of registration.

Freeman L. Bearfield, 50, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Cheyenne A. Bird, 21, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended.

Jeffrey P. Bowman, 53, Alma Center, was fined $169 for smoking in nonsmoking area and $169 for smoking-person in charge-provide smoking equipment.

Wayne R. Brown, 62, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended.

Molly A. Bussie, 51, Beloit, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Sandra L. Crawley, 62, Merrillan, was fined $169 for smoking in nonsmoking area.

Corey D. Crivits, 21, Ettrick, was fined $238.3o for display unauthorized vehicle registration plate.

Amanda M. Curry, 24, Nashotah, was fined $143.80 for operate w/o carrying license.

Amanda L. Fichter, 28, Altoona, was fined $175.30 for speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph).

Gary L. Finch, 43, Alma Center, was fined $263.50 for dog(s) running at large.

Joseph W. Fischer, 55, Beloit, was fined $183.30 for unsafe lane deviation.

Jamie L. Fisher, 49, Osseo, was fined $169 for smoking in tavern.

Melissa A. Foote, 22, Evansville, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Jessica L. Fransway, 31, Eau Claire, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Thomas J. Fuselier, 44, Taylor, was fined $263.50 for trespass to land.

Keelan A. Gilbertson, 20, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for front driver’s side window not operate.

Thomas W. Grams, 66, Wind Lake, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Edward J. Habersetzer, 72, Hartford, was fined $162.70 for operate w/o carrying license.

Michael P. Hart, 23, Neillsville, was fined $175.30 for fail/stop at stop sign.

Brooke A. Hartwig, 19, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended.

Donald C. Heidel, 69, Holmen, was fined $200.50 for exceeding speed zones, etc. (16-19 mph).

Chalsee M. Hockenbery, 23, Black River Falls, was fined $179 for disorderly conduct w/motor vehicle.

Diane R. Hofstedt, 51, Eau Claire, was fined $175.30 for nonregistration of auto, etc.

Derek L. Huntington, 26, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for nonregistration of auto, etc. and $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Bryan A. Kampa, 19, Hixton, was fined $200.50 for operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance, $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt and $200.50 for operating while suspended (3rd).

Jarrod W. Kuehn, 30, Eau Claire, was fined $156.40 for operate w/o carrying license.

Jody A. Larson, 24, Alma Center, was fined $143.80 for operate w/o carrying license.

Alexandra J. Lewison, 21, Hudson, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Carey A. Link, 30, La Crosse, was fined $236 for operating while revoked.

Tracy L. Littlejohn, 38, La Crosse, was fined $200.50 for speeding in 55 mph zone (16-19 mph).

Joseph F. Lynch, 48, Chippewa Falls, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

James A. McBride, 64, Fairchild, was fined $338 for two charges of smoking-person in charge-provide smoking equipment and $338 for two charges of smoking in nonsmoking area.

Gary J. Miller, 62, Stanley, was fined $18 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Alex Montalvo, 53, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for operate after rev/susp of registration.

Darcy J. Mullins, 43, Taylor, was fined $817.50 for OWI (1st).

Quinn R. Musch, 25, South Range, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Steven M. Nickaboine, 22, Lake Delton, was fined $143.80 for operate w/o valid license.

Peter J. Normington, 58, Pittsville, was fined $200.50 for construct or use elevated device.

Scott A. Olson, 39, Sparta, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance and $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Jose E. Ortiz, 37, Black River Falls, was fined $263.50 for disorderly conduct-county/municipality.

Rodney M. Parker, 42, Merrillan, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Brittney V. Pooler, 24, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Christine M. Riedel, 20, Melrose, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Susan M. Rowlee, 52, Black River Falls, was fined $326.50 for disorderly conduct.

Michael R. Sandoval, 31, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Linda M. Scharpf, 45, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for speeding in 55 mph zone (16-19 mph).

Rachel L. Skroch, 30, Hixton, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Wayne D. Stein, 58, Hixton, was fined $817.50 for operating w/PAC greater than .08/less than .15 (1st).

Ethan E. Steinbrenner, 49, Fort Atkinson, was fined $175.30 for speeding in 55 mph zone (11-15 mph).

Karan M. Stelter, 39, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Stormy S. Stensven, 21, Melrose, was fined $200.50 for speeding on city highway (16-19 mph).

Nathan A. Stenulson, 19, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Andrew R. Strelow, 28, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for operate snowmobile at unreasonable speed.

Maria B. Suchla, 19, Whitehall, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance and $200.50 for operating while suspended.

Samuel J. Szymborski, 21, Mequon, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Cody A. Taylor, 20, Black River Falls, was fined $162.70 for no tail lamp/defective tail lamp-night.

Shane J. Taylor, 26, Black River Falls, was fined $1,396 for operating w/PAC greater than .15 (1st).

Dakota M. Tennant, 19, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for fail/maintain door/hood/trunk, $389.50 for reckless driving-endanger safety, $263.50 for underage drinking-possess-17-20 (1st), $175.30 for fail/equip required bumper and $213.10 for failure to keep vehicle under control.

Antoinette Thayer, 54, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for speeding on city highway (16-19 mph).

Jaesa N. Thundercloud, 28, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for nonregistration of auto, etc.

Rory E. Thundercloud, 26, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance, $263.50 for failure to notify police of accident, $213.10 for driving too fast for conditions, $213.10 for failure to keep vehicle under control and $389.50 for reckless driving-endanger safety.

Lynn M. Trainor, 48, Sparta, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Serena L. Turner, 25, Marshfield, was fined $200.50 for operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance and $10 for ride in vehicle w/o wearing seat belt.

Austin M. Ugo, 20, Melrose, was fined $200.50 for operating while revoked.

Martin Valencia, 23, Black River Falls, was fined $169 for operate w/o carrying license.

Salvador Vega, 36, Milwaukee, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Norman D. Vick, 51, Rio, $200.50 for operate w/o carrying license.

Jeryd B. Waldera, 22, Taylor, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Joshua L. Waldera, 28, Hixton, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Karl B. Wallin, 48, Greenwood, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Jeremy J. Wellman, 30, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for exceeding speed zones, etc. (11-15 mph).

Kathy S. White, 47, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for permit unauthorized person to drive.

Floyd A. Whiteeagle, 24, Onalaska, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Timothy F. Wyer, 45, Hixton, was fined $169 for domestic livestock running at large.

Houa Yang, 44, Stevens Point, was fined $200.50 for speeding in 55 mph zone (16-19 mph).

Samueladam L. Zacharias, 17, Black River Falls, was fined $249 for disorderly conduct w/motor vehicle.

Jordan R. Zinn, 22 Taylor, was fined $175.30 for exceeding speed zones, etc. (11-15 mph).

Article source: http://lacrossetribune.com/jacksoncochronicle/news/local/crime-and-courts/jackson-county-circuit-court-and-traffic-report/article_4da83d40-78fe-11e1-8fd2-0019bb2963f4.html

Saturday's Trip to Lake Winnebago was Costly for Many

Lake Winnebago -

A day of fishing out on Lake Winnebago cost several ice fishermen more than just their time. Some ended up losing their vehicles, too.

It’s no secret the ice on Lake Winnebago is less than ideal this year. We were told Monday there was about a foot of thickness — safe enough to be out on, says ice expert Don Herman, but not sturdy enough to hold dozens of vehicles in a concentrated area.

“Twelve inches of ice only holds somewhere around 15,000 pounds. So if you put 30 cars out and it’s… just won’t hold it,” said Herman, with Sunk? Dive and Ice Service said.

And that’s exactly what happened on Saturday, Herman said.

Dozens of cars were parked on the ice close to shore in Oshkosh, but their weight and the sunshine sent several underwater.

“Guys probably don’t even know we pulled their vehicles off. We pulled them out of the water and pulled them up to a little better ice. We probably did about six or seven, and there was just so many we didn’t have enough time and then they just started sinking,” Herman said.

How submerged the vehicles were affects how much it cost to pull them out.

We’re told the work on Saturday ranged from $200 to $1,500.

And if you’re wondering if insurance covers that? it does.

“We’re going to cover the cost of retrieving the vehicle, and we’re going to cover the cost of any damage to the vehicle. That’s all part of the coverage,” Ken Heiner with State Farm Insurance said.

Despite the weekend mishap, we’re told the ice is still thick enough for people to be on — but only with extreme caution.

“Four-wheelers and snowmobile travel is plenty safe right now, but you shouldn’t be driving vehicles out there right now,” Herman said.

Article source: http://www.wbay.com/story/17029435/2012/02/27/saturdays-trip-on-lake-winnebago-proves-costly-for-many