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Wednesday, 07 April 2010 17:56

Archives - April 2010

All-time records were smashed in Antrim County last week when temperatures surpassed the 80 degree mark on both Thursday and Friday, worrying fruit growers and fire officials but putting a smile on the face of four year old Bellaire bicycle riders Jadyn Score and Brooklynn Clark, left.

By Linda Gallagher
BELLAIRE -If you were a youngster out on spring break, you may have enjoyed a game of basketball at the park in shorts and flip-flops, or a bicycle ride with a friend in your bathing suit. If you were a golfer, you were undoubtedly itching to be out on the links for the first time this season, trying one of the several Antrim County golf courses that opened early. If you were a farmer, you might have enjoyed the extremely dry weather that allowed you to till that ground in preparation for this year’s crop; if you were a fruit grower, you may have chewed your fingernails a bit as you watched your cherry trees and hoped they didn’t bloom way too early, and if you had a home in the woods you might have worried about the red flag wildfire watches posted by the Michigan DNR.
But everyone agreed that the incredibly warm weather in Antrim County from March 31- April 3 of last week was nothing short of amazing. It was also a record breaker.
What was an incredibly mild and dry winter, in fact, the driest on record for the Gaylord area, became an even more incredible spring when temperatures leaped into the 80’s on both Thursday, April 1, and Friday, April 2, with an all time record warm temperature of 84 degrees set in Bellaire on Friday, smashing the record of 77 set in 1963, according to the National Weather Service.
Besides getting out to enjoy the weather, people rushed to attend to spring chores, including raking of lawns and yard debris, causing great concern to area fire fighters fearful of property owners accidentally starting spring wildfires, particularly when winds picked up Thursday and red flag wildfire warnings were posted.
Said DNRE Fire Supervisor Don Klingler of Gaylord, “With the snow leaving so early, and no rain at all, it was about as dry as I’ve ever seen it up here. The warmer temperatures and wind made fire conditions almost explosive out there, particularly in the sandier areas of eastern Antrim County where there’s a lot of highly flammable conifers and scrub trees and shrubs.“
Although the agency, along with local fire districts, fought several larger wildfires in Roscommon, Lake, Wexford and Missaukee Counties, Antrim County was fortunate, with only a few smaller grass fires that were quickly extinguished reported.
Relief came for fire crews late Saturday afternoon when, for the first time since last fall, precipitation in the form of a light rain fell on Antrim County late Saturday afternoon.
But the less than one third of an inch of water, which brought with it substantially lower temperatures, only temporarily abated the fire danger, and with high winds and warmer weather on Sunday, fire danger remained high, with the DNRE continuing to ask citizens to refrain from any burning of any type.
More rain and a more normal climate for northern Michigan arrived this week. But, for those who love warm weather, it sure was fun while it lasted.
“I’ve been able to play in December up here when it was 65 degrees, and I thought that was warm,” said one area golfer. “But this was the first time ever that I’ve been on a golf course on April 1 in northern Michigan in a polo shirt and shorts!“

By Linda Gallagher
BELLAIRE - Two men thought to be responsible for a flurry of home invasions committed last winter in four different northern Michigan counties were charged with several thefts and a drug possession charge in Antrim County last week.
Antrim authorities last week charged Christopher Alan Murday, 22, of Saginaw, with two counts of second-degree home invasion, two counts of larceny in a building, a count of breaking and entering and a count of delivery/manufacture of marijuana.
His alleged accomplice, John Charles-Brandon Ladere, 21, of Alba, is facing two counts of second-degree home invasion, two counts of larceny in a building and a count of breaking and entering.
Initially arrested in Kalkaska County on February 17 on several charges of second degree home invasion, receiving and concealing stolen property, and fleeing and eluding officers after they crashed a stolen snowmobile into a patrol vehicle as they tried to elude both county officers and a DNRE game warden after breaking into a home on Plum Valley Road, the pair are thought to be responsible for at least two earlier breaking and enterings that occurred in December in Antrim County’s Lakes of the North subdivision in Mancelona and Star Township, where they stole several high-end custom snowmobiles, a chainsaw and assorted snowmobiling accessories.
One of the custom snowmobiles was later recovered where it had been dumped in the Jordan River. A search of Ladere’s Star Township residence revealed several of the other missing items, and also led to the discovery of 36 marijuana plants that reportedly belong to Murday.
The pair were turned over to Charlevoix County in March, where they both face charges of two counts of safebreaking, four counts of second degree home invasion, and one count each of weapons/firearms receiving and concealing and unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle.
As of Monday, Ladere had been released from the Antrim County jail on bond, and officers were awaiting Murday’s surrender. Both are scheduled to be arraigned in Antrim County’s 86th District Court this week, then may face even more charges in Otsego County.
it is believed they committed several similar burglaries
As of late last week, Ladere had been released from the Antrim County jail on bond, and officers were awaiting Murday’s surrender. Both are scheduled to be arraigned in Antrim County’s 86th District Court this week, then may face even more charges in Otsego County.