K^P"^H A brisk week, with daytime temperatures in the low 20s rising to near 30 ^k f. yM t °y Friday, and night temperatures dropping to the single digits. Total ^^^^^<?cltll€*|r sr>owfall for the past seven days was just 6 inches, bringing the year-to- ^••H date total to 122.5. Early-week predictions called for a winter storm . , Tuesday night, and warming temperatures by the weekend. LAST YEAR: A balmy weekend saw plenty of sun and highs in the 40s. There was no snow for the week, leaving YTD totals at 159 inches as of March 7, 1994. "W EAST JORDAN Copyright Up North Publications, Inc. 1995 ournai All righls reserved VOL. 3 NO. 23 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1995 EAST JORDAN, MICHIGAN Protection sought for the lower Jordan River B Y DEB SA YGERS HOBBS John Richter, vice-president of the Friends of the Jordan forested borders, near development and moderately acces­ Journal Editor River Watershed, Inc., told counci1 his group is working to sible. The protection is provided under Michigan's Natural complete what the state began in 1972 when the Jordan Rivers Act (PA 231 of 1970). An effort to preserve the pristine beauty of the Jordan became the first river in Michigan to be designated wild and The Wild-Scenic designation already follows the river River was encouraged by members of the East Jordan City scenic. for 73 miles from its headwaters in Chestonia Township, Council at the Feb. 21 meeting. Wild-Scenic is the label given protected rivers with wild, Antrim County, northwest to Rogers Bridge Road in South Arm Township. Richter said the FJRW is petitioning the Department of Natural Resources to continue the designa­ tion through the lower river and estuary to the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix, including Deer Creek as far as Barber Road in Wilson Township. In a letter to the DNR, FJRW explained the petition as necessary because. "We believe that including the lower Jordan and Deer Creek is an essential element to the initial designation and would complete the original intent of the Natural Rivers plan. This in effect would connect and protect an entire riverine system and conforms with current ecosystem management concepts." Richter said the eagles taking up residence in the lower river represents the high quality of the ecosystem. "By luck or by design, we have a true natural river here," Richter told the council, "not levied or channeled. If we don't secure and protect it, this region will be irrevocably changed and could succumb to development pressures." Richter said when the Wild-Scenic designation was bestowed by the state DNR in October, 1972, the lower river wasn't considered qualified for protection. "We've learned a lot about rivers since then," Richter noted. One more recently accepted environmental law has implications for the whole region - that of corridors. Ecological corridors, naturally or artificially developed, prevent biologic communities from becoming "islands" IF THE FRIENDS of the Jordan River Watershed are successful with their appeal, the entire Jordan isolated by development. Corridors allow the movement River, from headwaters to the estuary and mouth in the city of East Jordan will be protected as a wild and scenic natural river. continued on back Protection through zoning Designation of the lower Jordan River as Wild- Scenic would have some effect on present zoning, but mainly on paper, as zoning within the city of Hast Jordan already protects the estuary to a certain extent. The Friends of the Jordan River Watershed, Inc., are hoping the following management restrictions already on the rest of the river will be extended along with the Wild-Scenic designation: ' All new development is limited to where 200-foot ,et back.-. tor buildings are possible tl(X) feel on (he tributaries;. • Commercial and industrial structures and uses, except campgrounds, are completely prohibited within the management area. • Land fills or buildings are. not allowed within the 4(K)-fool management area where the ground water is within six feet of the surface. • No damming, dredging, filling, or channelization is permitted on the protected part of the river. • Docks, signage, grazing and logging have some restrictions. • Only underground utility lines can be placed within the management area and other utility or pipeline use is generally prohibited. • Mineral, oil and gas development is banned within Fiddler prodigies the zoned area. Joining their elders in sharing their love of music, a group of young fiddlers from Krista Knight's violin • No new public roads or highways can be con­ studio entertained the overflowing crowd at the Fiddler's Jamboree, March 4. Look for more photos structed within the zone. from the annual gathering of musicians in next week's East Jordan Journal. 2 -WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1995 -EAST JORDAN JOURNAL Photo courtesy of Tad Malpass The East Jordan Canners, talk of the north A half century ago when independent the EJ Canners were the kingpins of north­ to become a Central Michigan College foot­ )wan City basketball was in its glory, the East Jordan ern Michigan and were champions, or at ball, basketball and track great). Harold Canners were the talk of the north country. least proclaimed themselves so. "Skinny" Edson (Grand Rapids University memories Prior to World War II, independent bas­ The Canners were coached by the late letterman), and Herb Peebles joined the ketball and baseball teams were as popular Alex Sinclair, manager of the East Jordan club to shore up the champs. All three were The glory days of independent bas­ or more so than high school teams, and Canning Company and former Ellsworth Ellsworth residents at the time. ketball In East Jordan featured this practically every little town had its inde- High School coach. Ed Ruehling, local Others who joined the club during the 1938 team of the Canners (from pendentquintet. Some small citieshad sev­ attorney, served as business manager, and glory years were: Donald LaPeer. Colin left): Don LaPeer, Spin Cihak, Ed eral squads and would play almost any­ Edward "The Bush" Bishaw did the sched­ Somerville. Donald Johnson, Clarence Stanek, Colin Somerville, Gayle where. With other traveling teams avail­ uling. "Stub" Bowman, William "Tiny" Cihak. Saxton, Arne Hegerberg, Spike able, it made for added interest in the sports. Howard "Hud" Somerville, a former Louis "Monk" Cihak, Ed Stanek, Richard "Tich" Saxton, and brother Gayle Saxton Russell, and Coach Alex Sinclair. For a period of five years, 1936 to 1940. EJHS all-around athlete who played frosh football at Albion College in the fall of (who lettered in basketball and track at 1932, and Marlin "Spin" Cihak were the Alma College). players around which Sinclair built his team. The Canners weren't unbeatable and Foundation offers new Prior to their championship years mem­ when they were defeated it was likely by bers of the squad were: Chris Taylor, Abe the Bon Tons of Petoskey, a team led by Cohn (EJHS coach of all sports), Harry outstanding performer Ted Dombroski. medical school scholarship Jankoviak (shop teacher), Arne Hegerberg, Bill Taylor, and Harry Lee. By Gayle Saxton An aspiring physician from Charlevoix applications and recommend a candidate to Along with Howard "Slats" Elzinga (later Former EJHS coach County will soon get help with the high cost the community foundation for final ap­ of medical school, thanks to a special schol- proval. arship fund established through the Deadline for applications is May l.and a Charlevoix County Community Foundation. decision will be announced by June 1. Those The Julius Gilbert Memorial Scholarship who are interested should contact Diane Chamber raffle tickets will award its first medical school scholar­ Kidder at the Charlevoix Area Hospital, The East Jordan Chamberof Commerce is sponsoring a year-long cash raffle with ship in the amount of $500 this spring. The (616)536-2440. a limit of 1,200 tickets sold and four $100 winners every month. scholarship fund began several years ago to The Julius Gilbert Fund joins several January' winners were Dorothy Hudkins, Linda Tecple, Pat O'Brian and Jerry honor Julius Gilbert, a prominent commu­ other designated endowments and scholar­ Zoulck. In February's drawing, Dorothy Hudkins was a lucky repeat winner. Other nity activist and dedicated trustee of the ship funds held by the community founda­ winners were Kay Arnold, Carmella Beck and Robert Paul. Charlevoix Area Hospital. With current tion. The foundation manages and invests Winning tickets arc returned to potentially win again. Drawings are held on the assets of nearly $ 10,000, the fund was trans­ various types of charitable funds on behalf third Tuesday of each month and ticket holders need not be present to win. ferred from the care of the hospital to man­ of donors. Only income earned on the funds For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce. agement under the community foundation is used to support scholarships and other late last year. worthy programs, so the endowments live Applicants must be from Charlevoix in perpetuity, continuing to give back to the County and have completed their under­ community for many years to come. The EAST JORDAN JOURNAL is graduate degree. The future doctors will be Those who wish to learn more about the published weekly at East Jordan EAST JORDAN^ by Up North Publications, Inc., rated on their academic performance, stu­ community foundation, or who would like John G. Tarrant President dent service, personal interests, and letters to make a contribution to the Gilbert Fund P.O. Box 337, Bellaire, Ml 49615 of reference. A committee representing the should call, or write, c/o PO Box 718, East Journal Charlevoix Area Hospital will evaluate Jordan, MI 49727.