•M 75 cents Publishinc Since I SSI C'.'W'I W',.f < >,'!'•> I h'y I Hi mrnal Vol. 126 No, 6 Ko\no ( 'ii\, Michigan :• Bo\nc Cuv, Fast Wednesday, March 31. 100-\ GlANCE Taking Daylight Savings Time IT begins on shape April 4 • Construction at East The snow is melting, and the robins have returned, meaning Jordan schools moving that it must be time to "spring [ forward" again. Daylight Sav­ forward, on budget ings Time begins on Sunday, Nearly a year after breaking ground, the $7.9 mil­ April 4. Don't forget to turn lion construction project in the East Jordan School Dis­ your clocks ahead one hour.. trict has made big progress. A season of disagreeable winter weather, however, has meant some delays, and that, despite an original target completion date of fall Area students 2004, some work will continue into the next school on spring break year. "The additions at the middle school will probably next week not be ready for opening day next year," said East Jor­ Boyne City Public Schools dan schools superintendent Chip Hansen. "A mid-year will be on spring break begin­ termination of the middle school project is more likely." ning Saturday, April 3, 2004. That fact, however, doesn't dampen Hansen's en­ Classes will not be held from thusiasm for the progress of the project overall. "I re­ Monday, April 5, through main really pleased with the efforts on the job," he Monday, April 12. School will said. "We've had good communication with our con­ resume on Tuesday, April 13. tractors, including the three major ones, Petrie [Con­ East Jordan Public Schools struction], Sky Electric, and Arms and Cole. They have will begin spring break with a done an excellent job on this project, and frankly, it's half-day on Thursday, April 1. through their hard work and dedication that we're as The middle school will be dis­ close [to completion] as we are. They've worked missed at 11:20 a.m., followed through some pretty rugged conditions this winter and by the high school at 11:30 still are keeping us close to target." a.m. and the elementary school The project, approved by voters in September of 2002, includes additions and renovations to all three at 11:40 a.m. Lunch will not Workers have taken advantage of the recent warmer temperatures to complete brickwork and install be served. Classes will resume school buildings. The experience, Hansen notes, has on Tuesday, April 13. windows in the en try way of the new auditorium at East Jordan High School. The auditorium is expected see EJ SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION on pg. 10 to be completed in time for the EJ Thespians' May 7 performance of "Cinderella." ^hoto by Angela Shuitis Fire depts to face off In Weather Service: spring weather may be here to stay In northern Michigan, the transition the snow cover week seeing tem­ Lutz said, noting that a low-riding jet Boyne City from winter to spring can be an ardu­ has disappeared peratures at or above stream, situated (in the upper atmo­ ous, and unpredictable, journey. Of­ from the ground 45 degrees. The sphere) south of the Great Lakes, donkey b-ball ten, as any seasoned resident knows, somewhere be­ monthly average brought a lot of cold air into the area a Area fire departments will sightings of crocus and robins are tween March 25- The jet stream is.. J running a little temperature for throughout the season. The snowfall show what they're made of in quickly followed by winter weather 27, "just because bit to the north to give us warmer March in a "normal" for the season was unique in that, be­ the second annual Donkey Bas­ advisories. the sun gets so year sits at about 42 sides being plentiful, it was made up ketball showdown at the Boyne According to the National Weather strong it's diffi­ temperaturesforthene&month" degrees. "It's been of more "system" snow than usual. City Middle School gym on Service in Gaylord, however, after a cult to keep snow National Weather Seiyic^ meterologist Jeff Lutz quite a turnaround," "We probably had a normal amount Thursday, April 15, at 7 p.m. long and trying winter, it looks as on the ground." Lutz said. of 'lake effect' snow, but also a lot of Teams of four riders will face though spring may really be here to Long-range Indeed. The win­ 'system' snow, brought in when low off against one another in the stay. predications an­ ter, on the whole, pressure systems come over the area. crazy contest. The event is a Local snow has been reduced to a ticipate that the month of April in the Since spring officially began on turned out to be essentially average Typically, the snow is a little wetter fund-raiser for the Boyne Area few dirty piles here and there, right local area has a 40 percent chance of March 20, above average tempera­ in temperature but well above aver­ than what you get with lake effect. Chamber of Commerce. For on time, according to meteorologist seeing above-average temperatures, tures have already made their way age for snowfall. "The biggest factor spectators, advance tickets are Jeff Lutz, who notes that on average said Lutz, with normal precipitation. into the area, with much of the last this year has been the jet stream," see WEATHER on pg. 3 $5 adults and $3 for children under 12; tickets will be $2 Km-asiaMseiMMrofiWK* •BiUl more at the door. Tickets are available at the Chamber, Boyne Country Books, and Final Thick'n Juicy. Free donkey rides will be of­ fered to children under 12 at the show's intermission. For more information, or to hase sponsor a rider, call the cham­ ber at 582-6222. m Overhaul at Grandvue should Boyne City be done this fall 'Early Learners^ Though the most visually dramatic registration set portion of the construction project at Grandvue Medical Care Facility in for April 22 East Jordan has been finished since Registration for Boyne City fall, that doesn't mean that there's not Public Schools' Early Learners much going on behind closed doors. Program will be held on Thurs­ Following the completion of a new day, April 22^ at 6 p.m„ for fall residential wing in late 2003, work­ arid summer sessions. ers moved inward, concentrating on The Early Learners Program Phase II of the three-phase construc­ is a combination preschool and tion project, which included the floor- childcare setting, offering pre­ to-ceiling renovation of two existing school for kids ages 3-5 in the resident wings. morning with extended With Phase II coming to a close, childcare opportunities in the the project, the result of a $7.5 mil­ afternoon. Families can tailor lion bond proposal approved by vot­ their child's attendance in any ers in 2000, will soon move into the manner that meets their needs, final stretch, Phase HI, entailing total from full-time,five days a renovation of the remaining residen­ week to morning preschool five tial wing and the overhaul of the cen­ days a week, to two or three tral area, modeled after a "Main. day ft of preschool attendance. Street" concept. "It has a theater, cafe ' Anyone seeking more infor­ Airborne sleds were the order of the day, as riders ranging from amateur to professional to part in the 2004 U.S. and sweet shop, library, a chapel, mation is invited to attend the Open Snocross Championships at Boyne Mountain over the weekend. Racers competed in 29 different classes In beauty shop," said facility adminis­ registration session, or call the annual event, which was held on a groomed trail near the base of the Superbowl run. For more on the races, visit trator Penny Drury. Mary Anne at 439-8178. www.mlchlgansnowx.com. see GRANDVUE on pg. 3 PAGE 2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2004 CITIZEN-JOURNAL Official and the $100 winner Is... (business John Warstler state Senator Jason and the $1000winners are.. Allen, R-Traverse City, Marty Moody welcomed East Jordan officials to the state & Ted Penny Capitol last week, when March 27,2004 the group, consisting of local government Thank you for representatives, your support. • All proceeds benefit the traveled to Lansing for Booster project • the annual Michigan Municipal League meeting. Allen (center) pauses for a WEEKLY photograph with (from lift), city administrator David White, city clerk Health Tips Lori Campbell, city commissioner Fred Vollbach, East Jordan Steve High School student Margaux Rowley, mayor Czerkes Mark Postma, police Pharmacist chief Dan Reece, and rT .--fetei!j city commissioner Lee Ml Villi III' Symonds. Mi-imcM'Tii Preventing Heart Disease in Women The American Heart Association has issued' new guidelines to help OBITUARIES educate women on how to reduce their risk of heart attack. First, women should have their individ­ Samuel J. Persons Ardis Rose Lockman ual risk level determined by their doctor. Knowing Samuel J. Persons died missed by his sons, Samuel nephews; and the love of Ardis Rose Lockman, a secretary (also in Mount to go shopping, especially (Raymond) Fortune of blood pressure and cho­ Monday, March 15, 2004 L. Jr. (Pat) Persons of his life, that he met again 80, of Boyne City, died Fri­ Clemens). with her "girls" and sister- Walloon Lake, and Chris lesterol numbers is very surrounded by his family important. The guide­ Grand Rapids, Bruce five years ago, Shirley, and day, March 26, 2004 at her On Nov. 4, 1950, she in-law, Ester Lockman.