By Jason Cooper, Big Traverse Mich. on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 02:04 am:
I have an article that was in the Detroit Free Press a few years back when Frank Kelley was the Attorney General for the State of Michigan. It reads, "If you own a chunk of Michigan's Great Lakes shoreline, it's legal for you to keep the public off of your beach, says start Attorney General Frank Kelley. In an opinion released Thursday, Kelley said lakefront property owners can prosecute persons as trespassers to the WATER'S EDGE. However, a shoreline property owner may not attempt to keep people from passing the property by water, Kelley said. Property owners have exclusive control over their beaches to the water's edge. But they do need state permission before dredging, or placing permanent structures on land between the high and lower water marks." This is where we get our information as well as from the Michigan State Police and the Houghton County Sherriff's Department. The way we are stopping four wheelers from ruining our front yard is perfectly legal. We do have logs from our camp to the water's edge, but they are not permanent in any way. Even if we were to make a permanent structure, the high water mark is only within 5 foot up the beach, it is not where the waves break at. During November storms waves have came over the house, across the road, and into the river. So are you trying to say that none of that property belongs to us since the "so called" high water mark goes into the river? I dont think so. We have contacted the Michiagn State Police and they said as well that we OWN and can PROSECUTE to the WATER'S EDGE. Not only does the article and the state police says that, our deed says LAND ON LAKE SUPERIOR 100 FOOT MORE OR LESS. To JP with the issue over the stamp sand washing in from Gay, I have seen it wash in more and more, I do know my facts, thank you very much. When World War II ended and everyone came back to the Copper Country, commercial fishing was big since the mines were shutting down. The wooden pier that was at the Coal Docks was disassembled and used as dock would for the fishermen. Since that pier was retaining the stamp sand, each storm it slowly worked its way towards Traverse until it finally reached the irons. Our deed clearly states LAND ON LAKE SUPERIOR, so if we do not own the stamp sand and the state does, then they better come haul all of it away, because we own to the waters edge. Although another point to ponder, if your beach was to suddenly wash away in a storm and move down the beach a mile, you could not go back and claim that sand, and neither can the state. It is if you lose frontage, tough, if you gain it, good for you. The only reason we have done this is for the safety of our family, my little brother's are scared to death to go out on that beach because of ATV's. People should not be scared to go on their own property because of this, it is just plain rediculous. Many of you may not see it during the short time you are in Traverse, I was there all summer but I seen alot of it, although our logs have slowed down the traffic alot this past summer. One day I was out swimming with my family and a group of ATV's came threw, almost ran over our towels, which had my eye glasses laying on them, cussed at us, telling us to get out of their way. For reasons like that, that is why our beach is blocked off. Maybe if more people showed respect, it wouldnt be this way. Most of the people who come to ride on the stamp sand beach is people from the southern end of Big Traverse who dont ride or want people riding on their beach. Last summer I dealt with a guy from the southern end of Big Traverse who will remain nameless, and he lived on the white sands near Louise Point, he didnt want any ATV's running on his beach because he didnt like the noise from them, and they were too close to the house, and also has his property posted with numerous private property signs. But yet he comes on our beach and rides? Something wrong with that picture! We never minded the machines going through here until they started getting rude and thats when we layed down the law. Next year we hope to have poles dug in the ground every 24 inches apart from the house to the "highwater mark" then a non permanent barrier to the waters edge. We also have PRIVATE PROPERTY signs on the beach to protect ourselves, if someone was to get hurt it will be alot harder for them to try to sue, because it is posted and they should not be there in the first place. I always thought Id want a four wheeler, but 90 percent of the places you go are private property. Everyone who buys a four wheeler that comes to the U.P. is arrogant and thinks they own the place, well I got news for you, it wont be happening on our beach. Thanks
By J, mi on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 11:55 am:
Jason, you are way out of line. You seem to have your homework done but the fact is, there is not a problem with ATVs on the beach in Traverse. I was out there all weekend and didn't see one so don't make it sound as if there are groups of them always traveling up and down the beach. I didn't see you on the beach all weekend so I just figured you were inside spending time on the computer and I see I was correct. I think it would be best if all would try to get along in this world. As far as I'm concerned this subject is closed. Life and summers are just too short to spend all this time arguing. Thank you.
By Nancy Sanderson on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 04:05 pm:
Hi Jason,
My Mom recognized your brothers before we read the information. Nice shot. Nancy Sanderson
By CLH on Monday, March 8, 2004 - 10:23 pm:
Any visitors to the Green Bay area should stop at this great place in DePere called The Keweenaw. It's small and friendly and their pizza is awesome. They have pastas and pasties and great fishbowl drinks named after places in the Keweenaw...including "The Quincy" and "Brockway Mountain." The owners both went to Michigan Tech...check it out!
By Tricia, Calumet, MI on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 - 11:52 am:
CLH: Thanks for the info! Sounds like a great place.
By I wish I was at the Hut.. on Wednesday, March 10, 2004 - 01:46 pm:
I live in Green Bay and it is a great place ..or try GIPPER'S sports bar on University ave in Green Bay..