August 16, 2006 ; Marquette County, Michigan MI, Marquette County is one step closer to cleaning up a major problem along a snowmobile trail. The Marquette County Board of Commissioners asked county staff to look into stricter punishment for those who illegally dump trash. Several land owners along Trail 8 are considering pulling their use permits, potentially shutting down a major snowmobile corridor. This could have a major impact on the local economy, since snowmobiling brings in over $10 million a year. read the whole Michigan snowmobile story here...

March 13, 2006; Traverse City, Michigan, MI, USA snowmobile news item; Stolen snowmobile leads to 2-hour chase; FROM STAFF REPORTS; CADILLAC MICHIGAN USA- The report of a stolen snowmobile in the back of a truck led police from several area agencies on a two-hour chase through three counties. Michigan State Police officials responded to a call early Sunday morning of a truck that had allegedly stolen a snowmobile from a residence in Cadillac. Officials said the truck was located by troopers at 2:05 a.m. on 44 Road at M-115, but the vehicle allegedly refused to stop. Troopers, along with other police agencies, said the chase lasted nearly two hours and went through Osceola and Lake counties before returning back to Wexford. Police said the driver was lodged in the Wexford County Jail on charges of fleeing and eluding and felonious assault with a vehicle. news source here...**

March 8, 2006; GREEN BAY, Michigan MI USA — Brown County closes its snowmobile trails ; The Brown County Park Department reports that all snowmobile trails in the county will be closed as of today due to insufficient snow. Snowmobilers should be aware that they can be fined for riding on county trails when they are closed. For Brown County trail information, call 920-448-4466 and press option 8. For trail information in other counties, call these numbers: Calumet County 920-849-1494; Outagamie County 920-832-4790; Waupaca County 715-258-6243; and Winnebago County 920-232-1960. more on this news story here...
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APril 17 2006; MI, Michigan United States; Snowmobile News story; Swanson, Black sentenced to jail for larceny of snowmobile; By Rick Charmoli, Cadillac News; CADILLAC - Two men have 120 days to think about their part of a larceny. Jason Arthur Swanson, 29, of Wellston and Timothy Joseph Black, 45, of Ypsilanti were sentenced to 120 days in jail Wednesday in 84th District Court after they pleaded guilty to larceny of $200 or more but less than $1,000. Swanson pleaded guilty on April 4 to the charge for his connection with incidents on or about March 12 while Black pleaded guilty on March 22 to the charge for his connection with incidents on or about March 12. Black's wife Elayne Marie, 43, had similar charges against her dropped. Although both Swanson and Black were sentenced, one person connected with the case is still awaiting an outcome.

Richard Henry Wicklund is charged with one count of larceny - $1,000 or more but less than $20,000; weapons - firearms - possession under the influence; police officer - fleeing - fourth degree - vehicle code; weapons - felony firearm; assault with a dangerous weapon (felonious assault); driving reckless; and weapons - pistols - carrying concealed while under the influence. The 29-year-old stood mute to the charges Monday in 28th Circuit Court (April 10) all stemming from his alleged connection with incidents occurring on or about March 12 in Cadillac. At about 2 a.m. on March 12, a report of a snowmobile stolen from a front yard of a residence in the city of Cadillac was dispatched by Wexford County along with the description of the suspect's vehicle. Officers from the Cadillac Michigan State Police, Wexford County Sheriff's Department and Cadillac Police converged on the area. A MSP car found the suspect and attempted to stop the vehicle. When the suspect refused to stop a high-speed chase ensued. The chase lasted approximately two hours and went through three counties and involved several police agencies. The pursuit ended on a snowmobile trail after the suspects turned north on 7 Mile Road from M-55 and got stuck. Three of the four suspects were apprehended nearby after a foot chase. As trackers from the Cadillac Police Department and Wexford County Sheriff's Department continued the search for the fourth suspect, he turned himself into the MSP in Cadillac. The pursuit began at 2 a.m. and finally stopped at 3:24 a.m. with the fourth suspect in custody by approximately 10 a.m. March 12. The snowmobile was recovered undamaged.
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March 11 2006; EAGLE RIVER, Mich.; Keweenaw trail grooming suffers as group hits financial snag; EAGLE RIVER, Mich. Snowmobile trail groomers in the Keweenaw need some financial help or the region may end up with sloppy trails. The state wildlife office gives 130-thousand dollars per year to Keweenaw Trail Services to groom 232 miles in the Keweenaw. But the nonprofit group is running a 56-thousand dollar deficit. So officials are asking the 242 businesses that benefit from snowmobiling to help take up the slack. Officials say they will ask the state for more grooming money next year. (Andy Fay, WLUC)

March 7, 2006 -MUNISING (AP) - Organizers looking for volunteers for snowmobile race; Organizers of The Munising 300 snowmobile race are seeking volunteers to help during the second annual running of the professional and amateur competition. The Munising race, scheduled for March 17th and 18th, is expected to draw about two-thousand people. The event is affiliated with the U.S. Cross-Country Snowmobile Racing Association. Race organizers say last year was their biggest race with 120 entries, but this year looks to be bigger with over 200. snowmobile news here..
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Sunday, March 5, 2006;Prudenville; Snowmobile hits Clare patrol car; By SUSAN FIELD Clare Managing Editor A 34-year-old Prudenville man was flown to a Saginaw hospital after his snowmobile hit a Clare County sheriff's patrol car in Hayes Township Friday. A 31-year-old Harrison woman who was driving a snowmobile was also injured when she avoided the patrol car but hit a snowbank at 339 E. Townline Lake Road, state police said. The Prudenville man was flown to Saginaw Covenant Hospital after the 2:46 p.m. collision, when a deputy backed out of a private drive into the path of the snowmobilers, police said. The Prudenville man tried to stop the snowmobile, but lost control and hit the passenger side of the patrol car, police said. The Harrison woman was also taken to Covenant after being thrown from her snowmobile. A third snowmobiler, a 27-year-old Harrison man, was able to avoid the collision and was uninjured, officers said. Alcohol was not a factor and the accident remains under investigation.

The closure of two snowmobile routes in the Keweenaw this winter is causing severe financial problems for businesses in Chassell.The trail from Chassell to Houghton is blocked because some residents say they, and not the DNR, own the land. Similarly, a trail from Chassell to Baraga hasn't been groomed this winter because of another landowner dispute. "We have no trail access," says Al Kotila, the owner of the Chippewa Motel. "We have snowmobilers who want to say. They liked to stay in Chassell previously, but there's no way in or out now." Kotila's put his motel up for sale. It's the same story at the Chassell Citgo. In winters past, the snowmobilers lined up waiting for gas. No more. The owner estimates that premium fuel sales were down 80 percent in January from a year ago. read more news here...

MARQUETTE - Snowmobile fatalities drop: State enjoys safest season in 15 years; By JOHN PEPIN, Journal Staff Writer and The Associated Press; PHOTO: A snowmobiler rides a trail near Trenary Saturday afternoon. Officials are reporting the safest snowmobile season in Michigan in 15 years. (Journal photo by Camilla Mingay); Michigan is enjoying one of the safest riding seasons in nearly 15 years. In Michigan, 14 riders have died this winter, including four snowmobilers in the Upper Peninsula. If the season were to end now, the U.P. sled death total would reach a low point not seen since the winter of 1991-92. Last winter - for the fourth time in the past six seasons - there were 12 riders killed in the U.P., and 24 snowmobilers killed statewide. But with five weeks left in the snowmobile season, law enforcement officials are shying away from claiming any type of victory over the sledding death count. "There's a month and a week left to go," said Capt. Curt Bacon, of the Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division in Marquette. Over the past 17 winters, the average Michigan death toll per winter is 31. The average is actually higher than Wisconsin which has seen an average of 27 riders deaths each winter over the past 10 years, according to the Wisconsin DNR. The U.P. has had 139 riders killed since 1994-95. read the entire news story here...

Feb. 18, 2006; Men injured in head-on snowmobile accident; Two snowmobile operators were injured Saturday when they were involved in a head-on crash just north of Grayling; Crawford County Sheriff Kirk A. Wakefield said that deputies were dispatched to the snowmobile crash at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday. The accident occurred in the southeast part of Frederic Township on the snowmobile trail near the Crawford County Fairgrounds. Robert Niebauer, 55, of Elmira and Francis Raymo, 52, of West Bloomfield, collided at the crest of a hill, causing the drivers to be thrown face first into one another. The helmets of both drivers were damaged in the accident. Niebauer and Raymo were both transported to Grayling Mercy Hospital. Niebauer was transferred to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, where he was listed in serious condition on Tuesday. Raymo was transferred to St. Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw. Neither alcohol nor speed, were believed to be a factor in the accident. The accident remains under investigation. more sled safety news here...

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FERNDALE, Mich., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ Gage Provides Fuels for SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge; -- Gage Products will return as the official fuel sponsor of the annual Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Clean Snowmobile Challenge to be held March 13-18 at Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, Mich.The event is an engineering design competition for college and university student members of SAE and is organized and sponsored by both SAE and the Keweenaw Research Center of MTU. Modified snowmobiles compete in a variety of events which rate emissions, noise, fuel economy, endurance, acceleration, handling, static display, cold start and design factors. This is the fourth consecutive year that Gage, which produces test fuels for the automotive industry, will provide alternative fuels to participating university teams. Sixteen teams are entered in this year's competition. Three teams plan to field electric-powered snowmobiles, while 13 have entered vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines that run on either E10, a fuel blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent premium gasoline, or E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. more on this story here...
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February 15, 2006 By James L. Smith ; Gotcha: Snowmobile dealer hails 'Officer Bear-dog';LAPEER CITY; THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION;Wednesday, ; jmsmith@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6365; LAPEER - The capture of two suspected snowmobile thieves after a harrowing chase has motorcycle and snowmobile dealer Ray Clemens singing the praises of Lapeer police Officer Jason Miner. "My new name for (Miner) is Bear-dog," Clemens said. The nickname comes from Miner's determined pursuit early Monday of a man who drove a new Polaris snowmobile off the lot of Ray C's Extreme Store, 1381 Imlay City Road, in the middle of the night.

Two Brown City men were arraigned Monday on charges in the thefts, said Assistant Lapeer County Prosecutor Cailin Chrismer. Ryan Andrew Haslett, 17, was charged with snowmobile theft, larceny over $1,000 and snowmobile fleeing and eluding. Anthony Scott Waibel, 19, faces three charges of assisting in the theft of a snowmobile and aiding and abetting larceny over $1,000. The most serious charge carries a maximum 5-year prison sentence. Haslett posted bond, but Waibel remained in custody Tuesday. Clemens, who was victim of a similar theft three weeks earlier, said Miner had been keeping a close eye on his business while patrolling and working traffic.

Police and Clemens said Miner saw a pickup truck pull into the lot about 12:30 a.m. A passenger got out, and the truck pulled out and waited by the side of the road. After the man cut a chain, the snowmobile lurched out of the business. Miner grabbed the keys and driver's license from the man in the truck and ordered him to wait. Miner then jumped back into his patrol car and chased the snowmobile north on Myers Road and through the Lincolnshire subdivision. The snowmobile then headed across a frozen lake with Miner chasing on foot. "Jason went into the fight like a bear-dog," Clemens said. "Most people would not have chased a snowmobile on foot across a lake." On the other side of the lake, the snowmobile entered woods and struck a log, launching the driver over the handlebars.

The man abandoned the machine and ran off with Miner still chasing him. Sheriff's deputies and state police found the suspect walking on Haines Road a short time later. Clemens and Miner drove to a house in Brown City about 3 a.m. and recovered a snowmobile stolen from Ray C's three weeks earlier. Police also recovered a snowmobile recently taken from Bernie's Used Cars, 1424 Imlay City Road, Smith said. Lapeer police Detective Sgt. Tom Smith said other interviews and investigations are ongoing to determine if the men are involved in more thefts. "I'm tickled to death to get (the snowmobiles) back," Clemens said. On Tuesday the sign in front of Ray C's read: "Thank you Lapeer City police and officer Jason Miner. Gotcha."

Vandals damage trail Groomer By ERICA KOLASKI Tribune Staff Writer INDIAN RIVER MI Jan 11 2006 : A tractor used for snowmobile trail grooming was damaged in early December while it was parked behind the Stargate Motel in Indian River. Cheboygan County Sheriff Dale Clarmont said that someone put water and other debris into the fuel tank, causing damage about $1,200 in damages. He said that the groomer is owned by the Indian River Grooming Club. Clarmont also said that a number of trail signs had either been pulled out of the ground, defaced, or turned around on the Indian River trails, causing a dangerous situation for snowmobilers. “These signs are intended to warn snowmobilers of situations requiring special attention while traversing the trails,” he said. “Missing signs may present dangerous situations for snowmobilers which can result in serious injury to the snowmobilers.”

Both the Indian River Grooming Club and the Inland Lakes Snowmobile Club have offered a $250 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in vandalizing the tractor. He said that the incident is currently under investigation and anyone with information is requested to contact the department at 627-3155. Clarmont said that department snowmobile patrols have been instructed to pay special attention to the area. “Altering, defacing, damaging, or removing snowmobile trail signs or control devices is a misdemeanor,” he said. “Anyone found to be doing these types of activities will be prosecuted.

Newberry, February 16; Newberry Radio Station Off The Air; A Newberry radio station is off the air after their tower was accidentally pulled down. Police say a motorist was turning around in the parking lot of WNBY on Monday when his snowmobile trailer caught a wire stabilizing the 282-foot steel tower. It then fell onto the station. Three employees inside the station during the incident were not hurt. The occupants of the vehicle also escaped injury. WNBY-FM should be back on the air within a week to ten days. The AM side should return in a couple of weeks.

Man, 56, killed in snowmobile crash; FROM STAFF REPORTS; FREDERIC - A 56-year-old downstate man died in a snowmobile crash in Crawford County's Frederic Township.Police said Daniel Ray Thorell of Montrose died from injuries he sustained when he collided with a tree just after 8:30 p.m. Monday on Newman Road, north of Twin Peaks Road. He was riding with two friends when he fell behind and apparently hit a tree. Thorell was pronounced dead at the scene, to which his friends returned when they noticed his snowmobile headlight was no longer behind them. Police said alcohol was not a factor in the fatal accident, but excessive speed was.