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Another Alex Herryman confection
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Kicked Can at End of Road
Benzie County will enter a fiscal crisis if we don’t vote to reset our millage rate and increase our taxes slightly — the way other places in Michigan do on the regular.
Alert Air
Village Election Guide
Check back on this page for hot election takes and updates as they occur.
Take a Breather
A report on the July 16, 2026, regular council meeting. Plus a sneak preview of where the Betsie Valley Trail might go through the new development to E Beach, and a link to the live Elberta Commons Community Survey
A Democratic Candidate’s Corporate Ties Exposed
Is enough enough? When it comes to “money out of politics” Callie Barr’s claims may amount to small change indeed.
County Administrator Leaving for Fremont
Special County Commission Meeting Tomorrow
The Long and Short of It: Council Agenda and Parks & Rec
The Budget, Grant, Finance, and Audit Committee meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Bastille Day, at 8 a.m. For Thursday’s council meeting the list is skeletal but includes a UB Clerk application.
Work the Polls
Gilmore Clerk Amanda Rommell still needs election workers for early voting. The in-person training was July 9, but you can still do a self-paced training anytime before July 25 to get certified. My earlier post suggested you need to be present at the Gilmore Board meeting tomorrow but
Elberta Commons Update
Per a postcard handed out to members of the Parks & Rec Commission at their July 9 meeting, the first charrette will be held September 22–24, with some preliminary activities you can sign up for online, though it’s unclear how exactly.
Council Hires AI-Enhanced Code Enforcement Officer and Things of That Nature
At least one human will use AI to notify the Village within 120 seconds of a potential violation. Council also accepted the UB clerk's resignation and ordered speed humps again.
Calendar: January 2011
Wednesday, 5th, 7 pm, Village Community Building, Elberta Parks and Recreation Committee meets. Tuesday, 11th, 5:30 pm–9 pm, Grow Benzie, 5885 M-115, Benzonia, Potluck Workshop "Building a Living Soil," with ag guru Craig Schaaf. Part 1 in a series of 6 hard-core gardening workshops.
Calendar: December 2010
Wednesday, 1st, 7 pm, Village Community Building, Elberta Parks and Recreation Committee meets to discuss trail maintenance, sledding party, Elberta Arts Council, Elberta Alert newspaper Thursday, 2nd, 6 pm, County Sheriff's Office, 505 Michigan Ave. (US-31), Beulah: citizens' Public Safety Committee , organized by Sheriff Rory Heckman,
Foghorn: Grease Our Wheels
Is anyone deep-frying a turkey or anything else for the holidays? Several area residents use vegetable oil to power their diesel cars, and they'd love to come and get your leftovers. You'd be doing them a favor and keeping the grease out of BLUA and
Council Meeting Report: We Didn’t Start the Fire (or the Sewage)
The last meeting of the Doug Holmes–led Elberta Village Council convened last night. Next month, December 16, will see the new council members under Reg Manville take the reins. Attendance was high, at 18. Among the luminaries present were local developer Scott Gest and newly elected District 3 county
The Guns of November
What's that sound ringing out at the indecent hour of 8 am? You crack open an eye, curse the sun coming in through the curtain, and, there it goes again. For the past week or so, shots have been heard several times a day as hunters "sight
Foghorn: Underground Utility Lines
If the village could get a grant to revamp the power/phone/cable lines to underground status, the problem with tree height and growth would be mute. It would be so nice to have a clear view of the bay (without utility lines) and it would make the commercial area
Parks and Rec Report: Ideas a-Poppin'
The Elberta Parks and Recreation Committee held its regular meeting last night at the Village Community Building. In attendance were new member Arthur Melendez and prospective new member Jennifer Wilkins, along with chair Bill Soper, Connie Manke, Village president-elect Reg Manville, and Lisa Schrader-Confer. Trustee-elect Linda Manville
Calendar: November 2010
Visit the public Elberta Alert Events Calendar here. Wednesday, 10th, 7 pm, Community Building (behind the old Bay Valley Inn): Elberta Parks and Rec Committee meets to discuss new arts initiatives, use of public space Thursday, 11th, 7 pm, 670 Crystal Ave., Frankfort: Friends of Betsie Bay meets to discuss
It's Planning Season: Have Your Say Before Someone Takes It Away
These are tense and exciting times. Yes, I know, you say, what with the Republican Party taking over the House, and the economy flatlining and the final four... [insert whatever sports thing—PS: the Alert is looking for a sports columnist]. No, no. Forget the national scene. What's
Keep Turkeys Flying out of Glen's
Each year, Community Spirit Food Bank produces 10- to 15-serving Thanksgiving gift packs for area families facing a lean holiday. This year, as may be expected with our continued crap economy, the demand is very high. Melanie Herron, a nurse at Paul Oliver and a Community Spirit volunteer, fielded
Why Aren't the Lights On?
Elbertians, navigating the array of road construction disruption since June, watching the stimulus-funded beautification of Old M-168 unfold, have been eagerly awaiting one key feature of the improvements: LED lamplight! But with work completed ahead of the October 30 deadline, many have been wondering, Why the heck aren&
Foghorn: Trees on Old M-168
Why are most of the gorgeous newly planted trees right under the power lines, when the old beauties had to be removed because they were right under the power lines? Send anonymous or signed rants, gripes, queries, or even kudos to elbert.alert@gmail.com, subject line "Foghorn."