Shelter Locations

From Kevin Bavers of the Red Cross:

Below is the latest sheltering information.  Please note, we have now set up a message on our chapter hotline 231-947-7286 ext 55 so that callers can ascertain the most up to date sheltering information.

Thank you for helping us inform our community where they can get the help they need.

Update:

Storm Relief Sheltering in NW Mich. - The Red Cross is on the scene in Northwest Michigan standing by to help those affected by the recent winter storm. With thousands still without power and freezing temperatures outside, the Red Cross and community partners are still staffing shelters in Benzie County.

The following are currently open community shelters.

OPEN SHELTERS:

Fresh Wind Christian Community Center

9780 Honor Hwy

Honor, MI 49640

CURRENT STATUS: Open ­- open overnight shelter if need continues

The Maples Medical Center

210 Maple Ave

Frankfort, MI 49635

CURRENT STATUS: Open ­- open overnight shelter if need continues

For the most up to date sheltering info please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/arcnwmi or call our office hotline at 231-947-7286 ext 55.

Remaining Power Restoration Predicted for Late Christmas Eve

Update:  12/22/12, 3:55pm

Consumers Energy reports scattered outages, mostly west of US-31, including the north shore of Bear Lake, the Hopkins Forest Dr. area of the south shore, a stretch of Bear Lake Township along Milarch Rd., bounded by South Shore Dr. on the north side of the affected area and just south of 9 Mile Rd. on the south side of the affected area.  Much of Arcadia, the north side of Portage Lake in Onekama and homes along US-31, between 8 Miles Rd. and Coates Hwy.  The section of Glovers Lake Rd., east of US-31 near Springdale Township, also appears to have continuing outages.

A few scattered outages in Benzie County persist, most notably about 900 customers in Blaine and Gilmore Townships, and including portions of Benzonia along M-115.

Emily Votruba of the Elberta Alert reported that as of mid-afternoon, Stapleton's (US-31 & M-115) was open and pumping gas, that the Maples and FreshWinds church in Frankfort offered heat.

Hear more information about Benzie County conditions from Emily Votruba here:

Cherryland Electric reports a total of about 250 households still without power in its Brethren, Thompsonville and Copemish substation areas.

Chip Kragt, Red Cross Regional Emergency Service Director for West Michigan, says that Little River Casino Resort is now available as a warming shelter.  Earlier this afternoon, he reported that no one had yet arrived to take advantage of the service.  He said that other shelters would be set up on an as-needed basis, based on the calls they receive and the locations that need shelters.  He recommended calling the Muskegon office of the Red Cross at (231) 726-3555.

This morning, CenturyLink reported a restoration time of Wed. Dec. 26 for its landline customers.  During the March 2 storm and during the windstorm of 2011, CenturyLink technicians set up generators to power the phone lines, but such arrangements do not appear to currently be in place.  

12/21/12, 3:00am

The longest night of the year is stretching into the longest weekend, for some. By 1am, early Saturday morning, Consumers Energy had pushed back its 4pm Sat. restoration time to 10:30pm Monday.

Pleasanton Township vacationers arrived for an extended Christmas holiday but found the only festive lights were those across the lake at "Sparkle in thePark." The Red Cross worked to set up a second shelter in Manistee County.

The first, at Safe Harbor on 8th St. near US-31 in Manistee, offered meals and overnight stays on Friday. Plows did not reach some northern county roadsuntil 8:30pm, however, making a 25 mile trip (and driveway departures) impossible.

The second shelter is being planned at Little River Casino Resort, said a Red Cross staffer early Saturday morning, but could not predict an opening time. While snow totals appear to be about half that of the March 2 storm, power and phone restoration may still be days away. vhh # # #

Landline phone service appears to be down at our location. We can be reached on the cell phone: (231) 970-1148

The Maples asks that one call ahead to check space availability (352-9674). As of 7pm, some parts of Benzonia have intermittent power. vhh # # #

Consumers Energy estimates up to 12 hours until power restoration and reports thousands without, as 4.5-6.5 inches of wet, heavy snow have fallen. vhh ###

Workers' Union Legislation Draws Crowd to Lansing

(Photo:  Gretchen Whitmer)

Update:  12/18/12

Governor Snyder signed the bills into law on the same day they were passed by the legislature.  Here's his video message, recorded the next day (12/12/12):



Capitol coverage of labor legislation

Lansing State Journal:  Michigan's labor legacy takes a hit: Right to work signed into law

Detroit News:  Right-to-work laws may cut wages, boost jobs, or both

Capitol coverage of other year-end legislation

Lansing State Journal:  Michigan Legislature goes until 4:30 a.m, passes abortion, emergency manager, gun, personal property tax bills

Detroit News:  Lame-duck push ripped


Update:  2:09pm, 12/11/12

From WLNS' Rob South:  "Senate Bill 116 has passed the house, 58-52. Now on its way to the Governor for signing."

Update:  12:36pm, 12/11/12

WLNS reports:  "The Michigan House of Representatives has passed one of two "Right To Work" bills. House Bill 4003 passed by a vote of 58-51. That's the bill that deals with public employee unions."

Original post:  11:59am, Tues. Dec. 11, 2012

This is the scene from outside the State Capitol in Lansing, where the legislature is considering bills known as "Right to Work" legislation. 

Photo originally posted by Gretchen Whitmer on Facebook, and reposted by WLNS' Rob South.  South reports that 2,500 people are inside the building, and 10,000 are outside. outside

Live coverage via WLNS' website here: http://www.wlns.com/story/20314363/the-right-to-work-debate-live-blog

Watch deliberation by the State House of Representatives here (video stream):  http://mhrwms.house.mi.gov/session

Listen to the same here (audio stream):  http://mhrwms.house.mi.gov/audio

State-level Changes to Public Education?

From our colleague at the Elberta Alert:

Gov Watch: Bills to Take the Public Out of Michigan Education?

by Emily Votruba

State legislators may soon vote on a set of bills that would make sweeping “emergency manager”–style changes to state public education, while making it easier to establish private and charter schools. 

Full story at:  http://elbertaalert.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/gov-watch-bills-to-take-the-public-out-of-michigan-education/

(Bear Lake and Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools superintendent Mike Matesich was not immediately available for comment. -Eds.)