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TO THE CURRENT HARSENS ISLAND NEWS
The place for Harsens Island Daily News !
SUNDAY - FEBRUARY 29, 2004
Update:
There are some delays at the ferry, both
on the mainland and on the Island, the ice is really coming down and
causing these delays, the Middle Channel and South Channel are open.
We'll keep you posted. - * 2/29/04 - 3:22pm
Ferry
and Ice
There is some mild ice on the North Channel
this morning, the ferry is running on schedule and a beautiful day is
shaping up. Sunny 50 - 54 with SW winds 5-10mph. Monday's forecast is
49 -53 with SE winds 5 - 15mph, rain and increasing winds. Tuesday another
chance for rain temperatures 45. Today is the day to enjoy the weather.
* 2/29/04 - 10:00am
SATURDAY - FEBRUARY 28, 2004
Sunshine
It is a beautiful day here on Harsens
Island, the ferry is not experiencing any difficulties today and the
North Channel is primarily open. Come out and enjoy the sunshine.
* 2/28/04 - 1:30pm
Detroit News Reporter
Yesterday at the Harsens Island Elementary
School a News Reporter came and spoke to the children and a few parents
for a story she is doing on the school. She spoke with Bruce Schweikart,
Bernadette Tackonis and Sue Marlow and a hand-ful of students. As soon
as we know what day her story will hit the presses we will let you know.
- * 2/28/04
- 1:30pm
FRIDAY - FEBRUARY 27, 2004
Ice Update
The ferry is continuing to run on schedule
and the ice is still flowing down the North Channel. The Middle Channel
is about 2/3rds full and the South Channel is still open. We
had a report from one of our visitors that the river up in Marine City
is wide open. The weather report is calling for S - SW winds tomorrow
which should be helpful. If anything changes we will let you know. -
*2/27/04 - 4:38pm
Ok Another Update
The "Middle Channel" ferry is currently
using the downriver ferry slip on the mainland side because the upriver
slip is full of ice. The deckhand reported "they will keep running
until it breaks" (meaning the ferry), as they continue to try to
zig zag around the ice. The ice report from the ferry is "the ice
is all the way up to the bridge and beyond". More later.
- *2/27/04 - 10:18am
Ferry
Update
The ferry is running but having difficulty with ice in the docks. A
5:00am commuter informed us that the ride took 45 minutes, the ice was
so thick it took 20 minutes just to land. Ice continues to flow. At
this moment, The buses are picking up the children for school. We will
keep you posted. Thanks Bernadette for your help! - *2/27/2004
- 6:30am
THURSDAY - FEBRUARY
26, 2004 *
Latest Update
Just spoke to resident pilot, Eric Mehl who flew his plane down from
St. Clair and checked out the status of the ice. He says that from North
Algonac to St. Clair the river is clear. The South Channel is open up
to about the Idle Hour where it is blocked, the Lake however is open.
The Middle Channel is wide open. General concensus, hard to predict
but it looks like we may be okay for awhile; anything of course can
happen, more heavy ice may come down, if this NE wind continues it could
cause issues, if, if, if, if......but this report is definitely encouraging.
Thanks Eric ! - *2/25/04 - 7:33am
Ice Conditions
The Ferry is still running. No significant changes have taken place
throughout the day, the ice continues to flow down the North Channel.
There is still alot of ice in Algonac, but still some room in
the South Channel. As of last night, "Gary's email" reports
"we have heavy ice from shore to shore at Marker #10. The ice has
stopped moving and is solid all the way to Lake St. Clair" . It
was still solid as of this afternoon but open uptown. The ice continues
to flow down past Lega's on the North Channel. As we are writing this
the North Channel looks more white with ice than blue, it dosen't look
good. As always we will keep you posted. - *2/26/04 -
5:53pm
NCORA Island Participant
- HarsensIsland.Com Exclusive!
Islander Ed Smith of Island Boat Repair on Green Drive, will be participating
in the North Channel Offshore Challenge this June 4th, 5th and 6th.
Stepping it up a notch, Ed Smith, driver and owner of the renowned Traffic
Light offshore race boat, which has numerous 1st place and world titles
in it's class, has sold this 27' V Hull Capsule race boat, which boasted
speeds in excess of 90mph. We have a sneak preview of the "New"
Traffic Light boat, nearly 40' in length, this monster, twin powered,
fully encapsulated catamaran is sweet, winning the National in record
form in 1998, it is a proven competitor. Under the control of Ed Smith,
driver and owner, with his son Sean at the throttles, this boat is capable
of speeds in excess of 140mph, WOW ! Ed Smith's "New Traffic Light"
will make it's debut at the North Channel Offshore Challenge, we here
at HarsensIsland.com will be cheering you on ! - *2/26/04
- 11:30am
Sneak Peek
at the New Traffic Light |
Ed Smith -
New Traffic Light |
The former
Traffic Light |
Ice Report
The North Channel appears to be approximately 1/3 full near the ferry,
in some areas upriver the Channel looks to be about 1/4 to 1/2 full.
However, the ferry continues to operate without any unusual delays.
We have had reports of "heavy" ice coming down from Port Huron,
but we have also heard that St. Clair is clear. A deckhand on the ferry
states that the Coast Guard has informed them that "a lot of ice
is coming our way". Time will tell. - *2/26/04 -
10:00am
Ferry
The ferry is operating without delay, observing ice flowing toward the
ferry at this moment but nothing of great significance, if anything
changes will let you know. * 2/26/04 - 8:30am
Detroit
News Reporter
As we reported last week, a reporter from the Detroit News was scheduled
to visit Harsens Island Elementary School to do an article on "the
day in the life" of a Harsens Island Student. Today a photographer
will be coming to the school and capturing pics for the News article,
tomorrow, the reporter will be coming to interview and compile her story.
We will keep you posted on when this article will be published.
- * 2/26/04 - 8:30am
* We changed the format slightly to accommodate all of
the news and updates for easier viewing.
Wednesday
- February 25, 2004 - 9:00pm
All is well with the ferry and it appears
we are out of the woods for the time being - of course that could change
as easily as it did this morning, but everyone seems optimistic. As
always we will keep you updated. While your here check out the pics
of the HIFD below.
Wednesday - February 25, 2004 - 3:00pm
The ferry is still running on schedule
and expected to continue. Thank you to the folks who helped with the
reports for the day, Champions Auto Ferry, the ferry pilots with their
insightful information and opinions and the early report we received
about 5:00am and throughout this morning, providing us with a birds-eye
update of the condition of the North Channel, the docks and ice reports
from up north. As we stated in a earlier report last week, when it comes
to the ice and the ferry,
what happens, which way the wind blows and any other information optained
is not misinformation, a lot of it is opinion, "it all depends
on who you talk to" and in our case here at "The Scoop",
what we actually observe. So make sure you check back
here to receive your most accurate and timely updates! Update: 4:20pm
- Thanks to our reader who sent us this picture of the ferry from early
this morning - looks like the ferry pilots really had to dodge the ice
in the docks.
Wednesday - February 25, 2004 - 2:00pm
A little news......
In a joint effort with Clay Township and
Algonac, The Harsens Island Fire
Department participated in Cold Water Ice Rescue Training this past
January 31, 2004, on Harsens Island. The HIFD utilized their new equipment
which consists of the rescue sled you see in the photos, which in this
case is being pulled off the ice by a "tag line" on shore;
and three new cold water exposure suits. Thank you to all the HIFD members,
everyone truly appreciates your dedication.
Wednesday
- February 25, 2004 - 12:20pm
The ferry is still operating, the North Channel
looks wide open, and yes there will be mail delivery today !
Wednesday - February 25, 2004
- 10:30am
Oh how quickly things change, the North
Channel ice has thinned down considerably which has allowed the ferry
to continue operating and to navigate around the sporadic ice. The ferry
did not shut down after the kids were brought home from the mainland,
and will continue to run as long as possible. Continue to be prepared,
and we also have to deal with the warmer temperatures which are expected
this week. Check back for a mid-afternoon report.
Update: 10:45am
Report from Algonac State Park area -
approximately 1/4 of the river has ice, primarily on the Canadian side
and the report indicated that there is very little ice if almost none
at all up in Port Huron, we may
be okay for awhile.
Wednesday
- February 25, 2004 - 8:15am - SHUT DOWN
According to Champions they are shutting
down the ferry - they have given the Algonac School District transportation
department 1 hour to make arrangements to bring home the Middle School
and High School students from the mainland. Harsens Island Elementary
students will attend school as the teachers are in but they will be
trying to replace them with substitutes from the Island. The ferry anticipates
at least a "week" full of problems. Get off while you
can !
Wednesday - February 25, 2004 - 7:27am
- Photos of Ferry - Click for Larger Image
The
ferry is still plowing through with some difficulty, the ice is very
thick and we are not sure how long the ferry can run in these conditions.
There is no ferry line at this moment, however we have noticed cars
accumulating for a couple blocks and then moving ahead. Back to you
soon.
The
docks are filling with ice which is causing the ferrys to have some
hard times - "this is the thickest ice we have seen in a very long
time." The wind is expected to shift to the West but the other
channels are filling up so once this jams in we will be jammed in. Apparently
there is more ice still coming in from Marine City. It will be a slow
go for the ferry with the ice in the docks.
Wednesday - February 25, 2004 - 6:50am
At this moment the ferry is running with
a slight delay, the North Channel is full of ice and according to the
school transportation department, they have not received any calls from
Champions Auto Ferry indicating that the ferry will not be operating,
therefore the bus is still running as usual.
Wednesday - February
25, 2004 - 5:06am - Warning potential
Ferry Problem!
The ferry is still operational at this hour, however, the South Channel
is pretty solid and the ice is still moving. Very thick ice is flowing
down the North Channel and the mainland dock has
quite a bit of ice causing the ferry a small problem right now. Will
update soon.
Tuesday - February 24, 2004 - 9:00pm
Well folks, we might be in for a heap
of ice ! It seems that the river
up in Port Huron has "Opened up" or "Let Loose"
and the ice is headed our way. It seems that St. Clair is "wall
to wall" ice and is moving at a steady pace. Remember when we told
you that when Lake Huron ice did start coming our way, the wind direction
would play a part on how much we would be effected. Well the wind is
blowing in the wrong direction for us, North, Northeast at approximately
8 - 11 mph, which is also expected tomorrow. As of this report, the
South Channel is open, the North and Middle Channels are open as well,
however we would be in a much better position if the wind were coming
from a Southern direction. At this
moment there is nothing of major significance in the North Channel except
some chunks of shore ice. At this moment it is a "wait and see"
situation. We have also been told that the ice that is coming is some
of the "thickest" ice we have seen in years. Thanks to all
who have helped with this report, as always we will keep you posted
with the latest updates. Be prepared as always.
Update on the Swan shooting: We have attempted to contact Canadian Authorities
to find out if is legal to hunt Swans, we are awaiting their answer,
in the interim we received the following email from "Dennis":
"Swans are a protected bird in USA waters....do not know the Canadian
rule. If you know please inform us! A sad bit of swan trivia, they mate
for life....few birds do this, makes the shooting of swans even more
ugly....hope I am correct and swans are protected !!!!!" As soon
as we find out the answer Dennis we will post it, thanks for your email.
Monday - February 23, 2004 - 9:00pm
Thanks to Gary for the following "Scoop"
via email.
"The ice which was shore to shore, in the old South Channel started
to flush out on Sunday 2/22/04. As of today 2/23/04 we have clear water
except for some shore ice at marker #10. No cutters have been down this
way for several weeks."
Some
of you may have noticed the sign up at the Harsens Island School asking
for Soup and bread receipes. The Algonac School District is compiling
receipes for a district-wide cookbook and they are short on bread and
soup receipes. If you have any receipes that you would like to have
included, please email it to us at harsensisland.com and we will forward
it on to the appropriate folks. Thank you.
Today workers reported to us people shooting
at swans in the South Channel, directly across from the 5100 block of
Green Drive. The men were in green camo boats in Canadian waters and
the men did shoot and kill one swan. We have been asked if this is legal,
if you have the answer let us know, and we will also attempt to contact
the Canadian authorities in the morning.
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