by Sandy Planisek Mackinaw News Events in Mackinaw City WEEKLY

April 3 Wednesday • Author of,Murder Under a Dark Sky, library, 7pm

April 4 - 7 Thursday thru Sunday • Roller-derby Tournament, Recreation Center

April 5 - 7 Friday thru Sunday • Raptor Fest

April 9 Tuesday • First and second grade basketball game, school gym, 6pm (donations for camping trip)

April 13 Saturday • Straits Area Job Fair, Recreation Center, 11 am - 1 pm

April 15 Monday • The Mackinac Bridge: Then and Now - Kim Nowack speaking at the Historical Society, library, 7pm • Create a Kid’s Craft, library, until April 30th

April 17 Wednesday • Kid’s Lego Build, library, 3:30 - 5pm • Memorial Parade Dinner Fund-raiser, Audie’s, 4 - 7 pm

The Soo Locks opened this week and the boats are again moving. The Cort passed Angie Timan-Morthland here on Sunday and was the first through the locks this season. - As photographer Greg Teysen said, “Viva la Spring”

March 31, 2019 page 1 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Prohibition – Up North Wednesday, April 24, Emmet County Fair Grounds, 6pm

Do you enjoy a beer with friends, wine after dinner, or a cocktail on a night out? One hundred years ago those possibilities were “drying up” as the expression goes. Prohibition was going into effect.

Michigan was one of the first states to pass prohibition laws and the first to vote to repeal them. Being early adopters of prohibition gave Michigan gangsters early entry into the smuggling business. Michigan’s prohibition stories are notable, and Cheboygan and Emmet Counties had their own local legends.

Essence of Emmet, a consortium of Emmet County historical societies, will present a program on the history of prohibition both nationally and locally, culminating in a talk about the local beer industry, on April 24 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center of Emmet County’s Fairgrounds. The event is open to the public, free of charge, and light refreshments will be served.

Speakers include:

• Phil Porter, Director of the Mackinac State Historic Parks, will give a brief overview of prohibition in the United States; the background, legal implementation, social impact, and repeal in 1933.

• Matt Friday, historian and editor of the Cheboygan Daily Tribune, will tell the Cheboygan County story of temperance.

• Chris Struble, president of the Michigan Hemingway Society and owner of Arlington Jewelers in Petoskey, will give a look at how the Volstead Act and earlier attempts at Prohibition affected Petoskey and surrounding summer resort communities.

• George and Danny Ranville, owners of Bière de Mac Brew Works in Mackinaw City, will discuss the brewing business today.

The Essence of Emmet group works to promote this region’s rich history. Members of the Essence of Emmet include: the Emmet County Historical Commission, Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, Harbor Springs Area Historical Society, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Inland Water Route Historical Society, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Little Traverse Historical Society, Mackinac State Historic Parks, Mackinaw Area Historical Society and Pellston Historical Society. Danny Ranville Phil Porter March 31, 2019 page 2 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Last day to register for Raptor Fest is Monday, April 1 Come see a live owl, falcon and hawk up close

Rich Couse, executive director of Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch (MSRW) and a presenter at the Raptor Fest, believes that anyone living in northern Michigan, including families with school-age children, will enjoy the Saturday evening offerings held at St. Anthony’s Church, April 6.

At 4:30 pm Saturday, Jenny Schroeder of Hawk Hill Raptors near Genesee will bring several of her rehabilitated birds to St. Anthony’s Church to talk about raptor adaptations and the role of falconry in conservation. A pizza and salad buffet and silent auction will follow her live raptor program. The evening ends with the annual Wind Under Wings award for the greatest assistance to birds of prey in the area. Stand- alone tickets for Saturday evening, including dinner, cost $40. Tickets for the entire Raptor Watch are also available. To register go to http://kang.machighway.com/~mackinaw/

Jenny Schroeder Hawk counter Kevin Georg from Johnstown, Pennsylvania recently returned. He and volunteers encourage visitors to watch as the birds circle above the Hawk Watch, located behind the Recreation Center on West Central Avenue in Mackinaw City. Hawk watching is free and open to the public. Counters are present between 11 am and 4 pm. Early migrants include Golden Eagles, Merlins, Bald Eagles, and Red- tailed Hawks.

Owl bander Nick Alioto from Sunderland, Ontario, began his third owl banding season with MSRW on March 20. He said “MSRW was my stepping stone. With this experience under my belt, I now have my pick of bird research jobs around the country. I chose to return this spring because people here are so nice. Northern Michigan feels like my second home and Cheboygan State Park, where I get to work while watching spring unfold, is the hidden gem of Cheboygan.” Assisting Alioto this year will be Andy Witchger from Minneapolis, Minnesota, another seasoned bird specialist.

Meanwhile, Jonah Levy from Harpswell, Maine, will count ducks and other waterbirds from McGulpin Point outside Mackinaw City as soon as the water is open. This research location also is free and open to the public, from sunrise to 2 pm. In recent years, 30,000 to 47,000 waterbirds of 38 species have been tallied.

Hawk count as of Friday

Bald Eagles 184 Golden Eagles 93 Red-tailed Hawks 421 Miscellaneous other 198

Saw whet owls banded 11 Nick Alioto with Long-eared Owl, photo by Arthur Sanchez page 2 March 31, 2019 page 3 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Emmet County Parks & Rec Hosting ‘Mom’s Day Out’ May 12

Emmet County Parks and Recreation has a new event slated for this spring and it’s all about celebrating mothers with an afternoon of relaxing massages, facials, music and more.

“Mom’s Day Out” is set for Sunday, May 12, from 1-4 pm at the Emmet County Fairgrounds Community Center. The event was conceived as a way of giving moms a few hours away from the little ones where they could share time with each other and, if they choose, with their older kids. Only children 14 years and older will be permitted at the event. Tickets are $10 per person and include several services to pamper moms and give them that special attention they deserve, especially on Mother’s Day.

The atmosphere for “Mom’s Day Out” will be filled with the sound of music provided by Petoskey’s A+ Event Entertainment and decorated by Petoskey’s Heart Wedding Décor to showcase the springtime holiday. Julienne Tomatoes Deli in Petoskey is supplying some delicious items and Charlevoix’s French Quarter New Orleans Bistro will be serving refreshments during the event.

Amy-Lyn from Petoskey’s Harmony of Life Massage Center will help attendees release tension with a chair massage. Ladies can continue to let go of any stress with facials, as well as foot soaks, provided by Boyne City’s Jen Michael- Sikora using Arbonne products.

Petoskey’s A13 Studios plans a beautiful back drop for mothers to have their portrait taken, commemorating the day they took a few hours for themselves. Every mom will also receive a flower, courtesy of Boyne City’s Upsy-Daisy Floral. Pre-registration is required for the event with a limit of 150 tickets available. The $10 ticket can be purchased by calling (231) 348-5479.

“Mom’s Day Out” event details are posted on the Facebook page for Emmet County Fairgrounds & Community Building. Please follow that page for any updates.

History of Mother’s Day

A persistent daughter, Anna Jarvis, created the idea of Mother’s Day and pushed to have it become a National Holiday. President Woodrow Wilson obliged and made it official in 1914, declaring it to fall annually on the second Sunday of May. Conceived as a day to express love and gratitude for mothers who sacrificed for their children, it almost immediately grew into an economic boon for florists and card makers. Anna Jarvis was disgusted with the commercialization and tried to garner the rights to the phrase Mother’s Day and have it removed as a national holiday, to no avail.

In 2017 the spending on Mother’s Day came to $23.6 billion, or $186 per shopper. So be true to Anna Jarvis’ goal and break out the crayons and paper and make a homemade card that truly expresses your sentiments. If mom does not live nearby pick up the phone and give her a call. Mother’s Day has the highest phone traffic of any day of the year. For those of you who are mothers, have a wonderful day with your family on May 12th.

March 31, 2019 page 4 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Village Hall News

The Planning Commission met for the first time this year. They set their goals for the year and started working on an update to Mackinaw’s Hike and Bike Plan.

2019 Planning Commission Proposed Objectives:

1. Site Plan(s)/Special Use Permit(s)/PUD(s) as needed 2. Review Hike and Bike Plan 3. Training for Planning Commission Members as required in the By-Laws. 4. Research to determine if housing opportunities can be improved in Mackinaw City. 5. Evaluate the affect that the short-term rental ordinance has had on making more permanent housing opportunities available. 6. Revisit and better define “View-shed” as it pertains to Mackinaw City. For example, does view-shed mean the same thing on West Central as it does on South Huron? Phil Siebigteroth is sworn in as a Planning Commission member 7. Research the possible implementation of an early warning system for Mackinaw City ­ and/or possibly an emergency text system modeled after the Bridge Authority system. 8. Research mitigation of a potential catastrophic wildfire event. 9. Discuss how a continued rising of lake levels could impact properties and the Mackinaw City tax base. Can any mitigating actions be taken? 10. Stay up to date on any pipeline or cable changes across the Straits of Mackinac that might have physical or financial impact to Mackinaw City.

The committee will start on the new Hike and Bike plan first, with possibly a committee to investigate housing. Upcoming items on the Planning agenda will be a request for more Tesla charging stations and a site plan for the Dixie Brewpub.

Need firewood? Fuelwood permits available starting April 1

Michigan residents who heat their homes with wood can obtain fuelwood permits to cut dead and downed trees on designated state forest lands beginning April 1. Some wood also may be available in state game areas where forests are managed to create habitat. Fuelwood is for personal use only and cannot be resold or traded. Wood must be dead and down within 200-feet of a road.

Contact your local DNR office to determine what areas are available this year for wood collection. Quality and quantity of wood varies by location, so scout where you’d like to cut to make sure wood is available before purchasing a permit. Fuelwood permits cost $20 and are good for 90 days after they are issued. For more information about the DNR’s fuelwood permits, visit Michigan.gov/Fuelwood or contact Donovan Asselin at 517-284-5843. page 4 March 31, 2019 page 5 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Nessel Declares Line 5 Tunnel Authority Unconstitutional Governor issues executive order to halt state agencies from acting on tunnel

In her first formal opinion, Attorney General Dana Nessel declared a controversial law passed late in 2018, to allow for a tunnel authority to deal with Line 5, unconstitutional for violating the title-object clause of the Constitution. The constitution says “no bill shall be altered or amended . . .to change its original purpose.” The new law amended the law authorizing the original Mackinac Bridge.

The law’s title says, “An Act authorizing the Mackinac bridge authority to acquire a bridge and a utility tunnel connecting the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan...”

But later in section 14d it says, “All liabilities, duties, responsibilities, authorities, and powers related to a utility tunnel as provided in section 14a and any money in the straits protection fund shall transfer to the corridor authority board . . . The corridor authority board shall exercise its duties independently of the state transportation department and the Mackinac bridge authority.”

So the title, which says the MBA is in charge, differs from who is really in charge. The constitution rule was written to make sure lawmakers know what they are voting on. Did they? Nessel believes her ruling will be retroactive, meaning the current tunnel authority and any actions it has taken would be void. Based on her AG’s opinion, Governor Whitmer told state departments to halt any actions to implement the law.

An AG’s opinion is not binding, it is an opinion. Of course there will be a legal challenge. Also note that this is about the tunnel, not about Line 5 as it currently exists. Gongwer News Service March 28, 2019

Mackinac and Cheboygan have highest unemployment rates in February But low car insurance rates

The Department of Technology, Management and Budget reported Thursday on unemployment in Michigan counties. Ottawa had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.7 percent, followed by Washtenaw at 2.7 percent, Kent at 2.8 percent and Clinton, Kalamazoo and Oakland, all at 3.1 percent. The highest unemployment rate was in Mackinac at 20 percent, followed by Cheboygan at 16.3 percent and Presque Isle at 10.9 percent.

From a separate report, we are one of the lowest car insurance premium areas in the state. Zip code 49701 pays about 8% less than the state average of $2,693. We pay, on average, $2,482. But it is still considerably higher than the national average of $1,470. Northeast Detroit, where most of the rumble for changing the state insurance laws originates, pays $6,282; Cheboygan pays $2,477; St. Ignace pays $2,241.

Car insurance will go up another $220 “Michigan motorists will pay an assessment of $220 per vehicle beginning July 1, the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) announced Wednesday, a nearly 15 percent increase from the current year and the most the MCCA has ever charged in the more than 40-year history of the state’s no- fault auto insurance system,” says Gongwer News. MCCA is a state-created group of private insurers which pools money so it can reimburse private insurance companies for medical claims over $580,000. Claims have gone up 47% between 2014 and 2018 according to the article. The new fee will provide $43 toward MCCA’s deficit and $177 toward future anticipated medical claims. Gongwer Vol 58, Report 62, Article 4. Gongwer is available at the Mackinaw library. March 31, 2019 page 6 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Chromebooks in the Classroom by Lisa Rivera

Mackinaw City is now a 1:0 school, which means that each student in grades 6-12 has access to his or her own computing device during the school day. This has provided both teachers and students the opportunity to expand upon material covered in the classroom. Students now have the ability to enrich learning at any time of the day.

Although the staff is still becoming comfortable with the use of technology in the classroom, teachers have already seen the improvement that technology can make with quality of projects that are produced. As a school, we are not yet "paperless" - students still spend time completing traditional classwork such as textbook activities and worksheets. In some classrooms, students are completing traditional classwork with the use of technology. For example, some classes are using Chromebooks for taking and organizing notes, while other classes are using the Chromebooks for taking tests instead of writing on paper. In educational technology, this is referred to as "substitution" and "augmentation" and adds enhancement to the lessons. The ultimate goal is to incorporate lessons at the levels of "modification" and "redefinition", in which the learning process is completely transformed. Many teachers first work at the substitution and augmentation levels to get comfortable with using technology in the classroom.

The use of 1:1 devices in our district is still in its infancy, and there are many more ways that it can be expanded. Our staff has had some professional development training on the use of Chromebooks and ways to implement its use in the classroom, and will continue to have professional development in the future to promote its use.

Another education report - a survey of teachers

Launch Michigan released a report of a survey of 17,000 Michigan teachers. Most shocking was the finding that only 25% of teachers would recommend the profession. Why? Lack of political support, lack of public respect for the profession, excessive bureaucracy, and excessive workload. The teachers wanted smaller classes, the state average size being 26 students, far larger than Mackinaw’s. The teachers also found the standardized M-STEP test not useful.

page 6 March 31, 2019 page 7 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

March 31, 2019 page 8 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Mackinaw History Mackinaw City Bible Church

With the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in November of 1957, it was clear that church attendance in Mackinaw City was going to increase, especially during the summer months. A new Catholic church was preparing for ground breaking in the fall of 1958. Was this the perfect time to start another church?

With no construction fund and an uncertain number of members, Pastor Lyle Hoover, along with Pastor Barnes, both from Goodhart, started holding Bible study classes, first in a Mackinaw home and then in the Wawatam Township Hall. Records show the first evening meeting was on July 6, 1958. The first week’s start, with almost 30 attendees and nearly $50 in the bank, was a success.

After a year, the congregation applied to the Independent Bible Mission (IBM), a fairly new Grand Rapids-based consortium of conservative religious groups, to become

Helen and Lyle Hoover. Lyle worked for 31 years for Harbor Point Association of Harbor Springs. He also served on Mackinaw’s school board for 10 years and as Wawatam Township treasurer for 11 years.

a mission church. That meant that Mackinaw’s church would receive financial and organizational support from other similar churches in Michigan. At the same time the local group was no longer allowed to meet in the Wawatam Township Hall.

For a year they rented a large house for the Hoover family that included sufficient space for church services. By the spring of 1960, a deal to rent the Wawatam Twp. Hall was arranged and the church met there until a permanent structure could be built.

The first step in the process toward an independent church was to buy land. Three lots on West Central Avenue were purchased in 1961 by IBM, at the price of $1,500, from Vernon and Marvel Barnett. With a building loan from IBM, called a “cornerstone loan”, the initial church building was completed in 1967. Other churches, and even a lumber company, took on the Mackinaw church as a missions’ project and provided additional operating funds and even a team of men to do cement work. Many thanks to Rich Bible Church in the thumb, page 8 March 31, 2019 page 9 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Original church Original three lots Bought in Feb. 2003 Bought in Feb. 1988 Grace Bible Church in Ann Arbor, Fennville Lumber Company, and Terre Haute Bible Church in Indiana for their help in those early years.

To save money, the Hoover family moved a mobile home onto the new land. They and their three children lived in this 50’ X 10’ trailer for 17 years. Pastor Hoover worked his landscape business on Harbor Point while pastoring the church in Mackinaw. Helen worked many years for Shepler’s Ferry.

Additional classroom space, also serving as the fellowship hall, was completed in 1973, once again with a “cornerstone The sign and the Hoover’s trailer

loan.” The loan was paid off in 1978, 20 years after the very first meetings. The title for the land and buildings was transferred to the Mackinaw City Bible Church. Without money going toward loan payments, the church was able to pay Rev. Hoover enough to allow his family to buy a house in Carp Lake. In the meantime the church filed their non-profit incorporation papers, one of the steps required to become an independent church.

By 1980, more room was needed. With another “cornerstone loan” from IBM for over $4,000, and an expansion that would

March 31, 2019 page 10 The first church as seen in 1973 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek double the church size and seat 160 worshipers, new construction began. On Labor Day weekend 1982, the first service was held in the new sanctuary.

After 25 years of service, and due to failing health, Pastor Hoover retired from the church in September 1983. The following year, July 14, 1984, Pastor Reid Nelson, Robin, and their young family moved to Mackinaw City from metro Detroit, where he had served for 8 years as a youth pastor. In three years the loan was retired. The church graduated from IBM, and became an independent, local church. Since 1987, the church has been determined to operate debt-free. Any new construction would be paid for out of savings.

Parking became the next challenge. The new sanctuary took up ground space and drew more attendance. To help with transportation needs, a school bus, that had been purchased in the late 1970’s, was replaced with a van in 1982. The parking concern was growing because most of the church’s parking was on the village’s road right-of-way and the village was talking about re-configuring W. Central Ave. In 1988, 1-½ Start of construction of the extension of the original sanctuary to lots on the corner of Central and Marest, the east half of the become today’s fellowship hall first location of the Catholic church, were obtained. Land values on the west side of Mackinaw were escalating as the town grew and spread. The parcel cost $12,500. Bought in Feb. 1988 In 2001 the village implemented their plans for the W. Central widening, leaving only 18 parking spaces in front of the church where there once were 40. The remaining 1-½ lots between the corner parking area and the church were purchased in 2003. The purchase was complicated as the church first helped move the Vieau family from their long-time home on that parcel into a new residence on Cadillac Street. With ownership of the three corner lots a paved parking lot could be built. The church wasted no time. The paved lot was started in 2004 and completed in 2005. Today this completed assembly has a nice sign and landscaping indicative of a long-established, 60-year-old church.

In 2004 Darrow’s Bros. Excavating Company did a wonderful job clearing The sequence of vans has been important to the outreach mission the land and grading it in preparation for asphalt. The lot was completed with a new sign and landscaping in 2005.

Mackinaw City Bible Church Beliefs Biblical Doctrine – Literal interpretation of the Bible, in line with historical Fundamentalism Biblical Leadership – Christlike integrity, humility, zeal, and sacrifice Biblical Outreach – Evangelism at home and abroad Biblical Partnerships – Accomplishing more together than separately Biblical Excellence – Giving our best for the glory of God page 10 March 31, 2019 page 11 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

No Blue Ice for Tourists? Predict an Aurora, Indian Protesters

There are many ways to increase winter visitors to Mackinaw City and this week we saw two - an aurora was predicted for last weekend that brought many people to town for several nights in anticipation. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday an Indian-attempted crossing of the Mackinac Bridge by foot brought more people to town, perhaps mostly police and reporters. Southbound traffic was stopped for a while. An Indian called Big Wind was cuffed.

I counted nine or ten state police vehicles for the Indian protest.

March 31, 2019 page 12 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Straits solid ice Snow gone south of mid Michigan and Wisconsin Image captured last Monday by NOAA

page 12 March 31, 2019 page 13 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

Thank You to Businesses that Stayed Open During Winter

Part of my goal in writing this newspaper is to create a document of what life is like in Mackinaw so future readers can get a sense of our town. To that end I have tried to compile a list of the businesses that were open at least a few days a week during the winter. Here is my list. If you see something missing let me know and I will run an addendum next week.

Food Other Audie’s American Legion Burger King Coffman’s Hardware Dixie Saloon St. Anthony’s Church Irish Pub & Restaurant Church of the Straits Keyhole Bar Mackinaw City Bible Church Paddle Hard North Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association Bière de Mac Merrell Shoe Store B. C. Pizza The night sky at Headlands Devon’s Mackinac Island Fudge The Fort Gift Shop and Candy Kitchen Marshall’s Fudge Mackinaw Clothing Alice’s Kandy and Korn Seasons of Mackinaw The Broken Barrel Assorted lodging locations Candy Corner Next Door Food Store Mackinaw Family Market Krueger’s Fish Market Mackinaw Pasties and Cookie Co. Fort Fudge Shop First week the flu activity Big Stone Bay Fishery in Michigan was high, I-75 Plaza adjoining states are dropping Services Citizens National Bank PNC Bank Straits Area Federal Credit Union Richard Mahlmeister, accounting Darrow Bros. Excavating Barnett Insurance Krueger’s Auto Repair Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Bureau Post Office Village Hall Library MDOT Welcome Center EMS Station Mackinaw Recreation Center Mackinaw City Public School Wawatam Senior Center Medical Clinics Home repair folks Plumbers Snow Plow folks Gas Stations March 31, 2019 page 14 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek

WyldLife Club

Four middle school students (and one young sibling) enjoyed 2-hours of fun at the Recreation Center on Wednesday night. They learned and enjoyed pickleball with Jeff, Marty, Rudy, and Navit. Every student wanted to play again. The adult helpers, Jane Boyke, Kristi Laninga, Nelson Thompson, and Sue Koh also got to learn the game.

The students also enjoyed games and snacks. The next WyldLife Club meetings will be April 10 and 24th from 6 - 7:30 pm at the Recreation Center. They are open to all Mackinaw students 5 - 9th grade.

Cynthia Thompson, Ava Thompson, Carla Blake, Kerry-Ann Ming, and Myron Thompson were playing a game of trying to flip a cookie into their mouth

Dead fish may show up as ice begins to thaw

from the DNR Winter conditions – very cold temperatures and heavy snow over ice, for example – can kill fish and other aquatic creatures like turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish. When ice and snow start to melt in the spring, it’s likely that people will begin to discover those deaths.

"Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill," said Gary Whelan, the DNR Fisheries Division’s research manager. "As the season changes, it can be common in shallow lakes, ponds, streams and canals. These kills are localized and typically don’t affect the overall health of fish populations or fishing quality."

Shallow lakes with excess vegetation and soft bottoms are prone to winterkill. When aquatic vegetation under ice and snow dies from lack of sunlight, it uses up dissolved oxygen as it decays, and that creates fish kill conditions. Canals in urban areas also are susceptible due to run-off and pollution from roads and lawns and septic systems, again using up dissolved oxygen through the decay of vegetation and organic materials in sediments.

“Fish and other aquatic life typically die in late winter but may not be noticed until a month after the ice melts, because the dead fish are temporarily preserved on the lake bottom by the cold water. Once the water warms up, bacterial activity results in the dead fish coming to the surface,” Whelan said. “Fish also are affected by rapid water temperature changes due to unseasonably warm weather, leading to stress and sometimes mortality.” Fish can get easily stressed as they often have low energy reserves in late winter and food is scarce. That equals less adaptability to low oxygen and temperature swings.

Anyone spotting a fish kill in larger quantities – 25 fish or more – should report it using the Sick or Dead Aquatic Species form available under the fish icon at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. People also can contact local DNR offices. It’s important to report observations as soon as possible, allowing fisheries staff to collect the best-quality fish for analysis. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/FishHealth or contact Gary Whelan. page 14 March 31, 2019 page 15 Mackinaw News by Sandy Planisek Working Poor up in Northern Michigan

An updated report from the Michigan Association of United Ways says that overall the working poor in Michigan are up to 29% of Michigan households, but fewer are living in poverty. Working poor seniors are the hardest hit, trying to afford the basic needs identified by United Ways - food, housing, child care, and transportation. Their numbers are up to 41% of all seniors.

Working poor are defined as earning more than the Federal Poverty Level of $12,060 for a single person or $24,600 for a family of four but not enough for basic needs defined as $21,036 for a single person or $61,272 for a family of four with young children nor enough for financial security defined as $34,524 for a single person and $114,372 for a family of four with young children.

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