Family-Outdoors

Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh recently recognized five DNR Parks and Recreation Division employees for going above and beyond the call of duty in  helping to rescue two snowmobilers  who, in late January, had been stranded overnight near the Porcupine Mountains. Four Porcupine Mountains State Park staff – Justin Farley, David Merk, Jimmy Newkirk and Emily Pleiness – and William Doan, Parks and Recreation's western U.P. district supervisor, received DNR Director’s Awards from Creagh at the regular monthly meeting of the Natural Resources Commission, held last week in Roscommon. Upon hearing that father and son snowmobilers from Albertville, Minn., were stranded, the Parks and Recreation group volunteered to head out on snowshoes to search in sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions. The lost pair had weathered overnight temperatures of -15 degrees, and overcast skies and whiteout conditions made an aerial search impossible. After several ho...

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder today declared a state of disaster in the Upper Peninsula counties of Luce and Schoolcraft to make available all state resources to protect public health and safety in ongoing efforts to fight the wildfires already engulfing more than 20,000 acres. The declaration also may permit authorities to evacuate, and establishes a fireworks ban in the two affected counties and an outdoor burning ban in 49 counties. Snyder also issued  Executive Order 2012-8  activating the National Guard to provide assistance. The  declaration , outlined in a proclamation, was requested by the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD). The declaration ensures that all possible resources, in accordance with the Michigan Emergency Management Plan, are provided to assist response efforts in the form of personnel, supplies, equipment, materials and ...