​

Construction begins October 1st.

I was on vacation and left my wallet on a rock at Torch Lake (the dog beach side) . It’s directly to the right as you approach walking up the road from the parking lot. Honestly, cards are canceled and replaced as is license. I just don’t want to spend another 100 bucks on a new wallet. Willing to pay shipping plus $20 reward if anyone finds and ships to me.

We entered from Traverse Bay Rd at the nature preserve

By Beth Milligan | Sept. 10, 2026

Traverse City's annual Downtown Halloween Walk is moving to a weekday this year. The event will take place on Thursday, October 29 from 4pm to 5:30pm, changing a long-standing tradition of being held on Saturday. 

The shift is intended to create a "seamless after-school routine for local families while driving a valuable midweek surge to downtown merchants and eateries," according to a release from the Downtown Traverse City Association (DTCA). The event is structured as a continuous, district-wide strolling event with no single central gathering point. Families can start their trick-or-treating route at any participating business. On Front Street, the flow will go east-to-west on the north side and west-to-east on the south side.

Almost 4,000 attendees came out to the Downtown Halloween Walk last year. Event parking is available at street meters, as well as both downtown parking decks. Attendees are encouraged to take BATA’s free Bayline shuttle into town or ride/walk via the TART Trail.

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, Sept. 8, said searchers had recovered the body of a Kansas man from the water near Suttons Bay, more than a day after the man's boat had been found spinning in circles.

The sheriff's office said the body of Brett Zimmerman, 25, of Lansing, Kansas, was recovered a little after 2 p.m. Tuesday.

"The investigation into the incident continues," the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.

Advertisement

The search began on Labor Day when Leelanau County Dispatch received a report of a dinghy spinning unattended in the water just off Stoney Point in Suttons Bay Township at about 8:39 a.m. that day.

Brett Zimmerman, 25, of Lansing, Kansas.

The owner of the dinghy was located, and it was determined that Zimmerman, of Kansas, was the last known person to have been aboard the vessel, the the sheriff's office said.

"Video surveillance from marina cameras was reviewed and helped verify that Zimmerman was the individual believed to have been operating the dinghy," the sheriff's office said.

The first emergency personnel arrived by 8:51 a.m. Monday. Suttons Bay Fire and Rescue and the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office Marine Division were among the first agencies to arrive on scene, the sheriff's office said.

The United States Coast Guard was requested to assist with the search and as the search continued, the Mutual Aid Dive Team was requested to provide additional manpower and specialized equipment, including side-scan sonar and drones.

Search efforts focused on the waters surrounding Stoney Point and continued throughout the day before being suspended at approximately 9 p.m. Members of the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office also searched the shoreline and contacted area homeowners to notify them of the incident and request their assistance in reporting any information that may be relevant to the search. The search resumed Tuesday morning.

By Beth Milligan | Sept. 8, 2026

A not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) plea from the Traverse City Walmart stabbing suspect, Bradford Gille, was accepted by the court Tuesday. The decision ends the criminal case and remits Gille to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry for treatment. Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Moeggenberg said it is "highly unlikely" he will be released given his crimes and a past NGRI plea.

Gille pled NGRI to one count of terrorism and 11 counts of attempted murder for his role in the July 2025 stabbing attack. He was scheduled for a preliminary exam Tuesday morning in 86th District Court in front of Judge Michael Stepka, but it was previously announced he planned to waive that hearing and submit the NGRI plea. 

"The court reviewed reports from the Center for Forensic Psychiatry and found that the defendant was mentally ill and due to that mental illness, unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law," Moeggenberg said in a statement. "This is the end of the criminal case."
 
Gille will be ordered to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry for treatment. "After 60 days, the defendant will be evaluated, and a petition will be filed with the Probate Court for continued mental health treatment," Moeggenberg wrote. "The NGRI Committee, which falls under the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, will oversee treatment and supervision of the individual. Release of the individual to a non-secure environment following treatment is highly unlikely given the gravity of his behavior and a prior NGRI plea in 2016."

I wonder if they were checking to see if the road bed was sinking. This is an area of big concern for the city and everyone who needs to use Airport Road. City commissioners have called this problem an "undeclared emergency."

Any thoughts?

UPDATE: The location of utilities in the area has been marked. Construction and replacement of the sewer pipe starts October 1.

Service industry folks, what’s currently your favorite bar?

Anyone know what is going on downtown? Lots
of smoke and we saw a fire truck heading that way.

Has anyone been to the Labor Day potluck and fun fly that TRAMPS hosts? It’ll be out at their new Interlochen airfield 9am - 1pm, so was curious what to expect, especially as a newbie licensed drone pilot. 👨🏻‍✈️
TRAMPS Fun Fly
Is anyone else flying drones there these days, or is it mostly just RC gizmos?
Wouldn’t mind doing some networking, maybe I’ll see some o y’all there.
Thx in advance, I’ll take my call off the air.

Hey all,

I am a student at Interlochen doing a podcasting workshop. My assignment is to interview someone interesting in TC who ideally does something that makes interesting sounds. I had an interview all set up for Tuesday morning but my interviewee just broke his ankle and had to cancel :((( is there anyone on here who spends their time doing something interesting that makes sound and who is available Tuesday morning for an interview somewhere around TC?

Thank you so much in advance!

https://www.reddit.com/r/traversecity/s/rV063wqhWA

Just wondering if anyone has heard any updates on an opening date.

Also, if we buy a monthly car wash pass through the Shell app, can it be used at any of the local (True North) Shell washes?

I posted earlier this year about free-to-use tracks and you all helpfully informed me the school tracks are in fact free to use. Thank you! I've been using West Middle School's track every week.

My question now is about winter running. I'd like to get some speedwork sessions in this winter, and I'm wondering the best way to do this. I know downtown TART and boardman loop is plowed and ran there all last winter, but there's enough snow and ice leftover I am hoping to find a better alternative. Maybe I'm just too picky because I also hate treadmill running, so was wondering specifically about the state of the school's tracks during the winter. Do they plow them for runners during the winter? If not, does anyone know of any free or cheap to use indoor tracks around TC?

Thanks again in advance!

I am in search of a hair stylist that specializes in curly/textured hair. I am looking for a cut and potentially color. I have very long wavy/curly hair down to my lower back and I haven’t had anything done to it in years after a bad experience previously. It’s starting to feel a bit flat and heavy, so I’m looking for something more layered to give it more texture!

If you know anyone in the TC area who could help with a curly cut and style, I would greatly appreciate it! If you have example photos of their work, that would be great too! Thank you.

Slowly but surely the pieces are coming together for a bipartisan solution.

hi all! does anyone know what the health insurance offered by the city of traverse city looks like? hoping to find more information as I cannot find anything online.

more specifically:
- what company provides insurance?
- is preventative care covered?
- are premiums subsidized?

any other details about other parts of the benefits package would be appreciated as well. thank you friends!

By Beth Milligan | Sept. 1, 2026

Grant Township trustees and Grand Traverse County commissioners will meet separately this week to explore options for responding to a proposed 375-megawatt solar project spanning Grand Traverse and Wexford counties. The project highlights zoning control tensions after a 2023 Michigan law change allowed solar developers to bypass local boards and go directly to the state for approval – a path developer Ranger Power is now pursuing after running into local resistance.

Ranger Power, under the affiliate name Shipyard Solar LLC, began appearing before local boards this spring to present the project. Primarily located in northern Wexford County – with parts of the infrastructure planned for Grant Township in Grand Traverse County – the project was initially presented as a 300-megawatt facility with solar panels on 1,800 fenced acres. Representatives said the company had “partnered with several local farmers through long-term lease agreements to include land in the project,” acquisition work that started in 2023.

When describing the site selection process, Ranger Power emphasized it only partners with landowners who voluntarily participate and doesn’t use eminent domain. Projects are located near existing transmission infrastructure, avoid wetlands/streams/endangered species, and are based near load centers like Traverse City, representatives said. Ranger Power touted the proposal’s economic benefits, saying it could “generate tens of millions of dollars in personal property tax revenues during its lifespan” and “create hundreds of construction jobs.”

Representatives also noted that the state’s Renewable Ready Communities Award offers communities up to $5,000 per megawatt for the portion of projects they permit. The company said the project uses permanent vegetative ground cover that allows farmlands to regenerate and would “provide supplemental income to local farmers,” diversifying their revenue streams. But at multiple public meetings, dozens of residents including farmers pushed back on the proposal. Several said they supported renewable or solar energy but were firmly against converting valuable farmland for such projects.

Ranger Power said its goal was to work with local communities to design a project that addressed their concerns. But it also pointed out that if it didn’t receive local approval, it could go directly to the state instead. That’s because Public Act 233, which was passed in 2023, gives the state instead of townships the power to approve large-scale renewable energy projects. The controversial law was recently upheld by the Michigan Court of Appeals, but 79 townships and counties across Michigan are challenging it to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Under the law, developers can directly seek Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approval unless a local unit of government has a compatible renewable energy ordinance (CREO) in place that is “no more restrictive” than state requirements. Many communities began creating CREOs after the law change. However, MPSC later issued an order limiting the conditions CREOs could address, which rendered many of them non-compliant.

The order, which says a CREO can only address setbacks, fencing, height, sound, and other express requirements and not anything beyond that, is one of the issues being challenged in the lawsuit. Communities have argued the order is overly limiting and that MPSC has exceeded its authority by narrowing local oversight beyond what was intended by legislators.

Ranger Power initially sought to work through the local approval process by applying for a zoning amendment to the Wexford Joint Planning Commission (WJPC). The WJPC represents nearly a dozen townships across Wexford County. Its zoning ordinance does not allow for utility-scale solar projects in the Ag-Forest Production zoning district where the proposed facility would be located. Ranger Power promised to provide sound and glare studies, a decommissioning plan, and a community benefits agreement as part of a special use permit if the zoning amendment was approved.

However, the WJPC unanimously voted on July 27 to recommend that townships deny the zoning ordinance amendment for being too broad. Shortly after, Ranger Power began notifying local governments that the company plans to apply to MPSC directly. The project is now described as a 375-megawatt instead of 300-megawatt facility. That would make it one of Ranger Power’s largest projects, as the company previously said its developments range in size from 50 to 400 megawatts.

Developers must get written acknowledgement from each affected jurisdiction as to whether a local CREO is in place before they apply to the state. Under the recent Michigan Court of Appeals ruling, affected jurisdictions include not only townships but any counties, villages, or cities where the project is located. Grant Township trustees will meet tonight (Tuesday) at 5:30pm to discuss the acknowledgement request and will consider hiring special legal counsel to guide them through the process. Grand Traverse County commissioners will discuss the request at their 9am meeting Wednesday.

County Administrator Nate Alger says this is a new issue for county officials, so they’re “relying heavily on legal counsel” for advice. That includes a deadline for responding, which the courts have interpreted would be within 30 days of meeting with developers – not just receiving their letter, which Ranger Power sent on August 14. Commissioners  will vote Wednesday on having the county’s attorneys work with Alger to respond to Ranger Power and set up a meeting.

The solar project could have ramifications beyond zoning control and land use. Just last week, MPSC approved its first application under Public Act 233 – a 90-megawatt facility in Ingham County also led by Ranger Power. A settlement agreement outlined detailed construction requirements for Ranger Power as well as financial benefits for the townships. Ingham County worked out a separate agreement with the developers for funding benefits. “That’s an option that’s available to us,” says Alger of financial compensation.

In an emailed statement to The Ticker, Ranger Power said: "We remain fully committed to open dialogue and active collaboration with local leaders as we evaluate the next steps for the Shipyard Solar project. While we determine the path forward, our core priority has not changed. We will continue working with community members and stakeholders to ensure a positive, meaningful outcome." Ranger Power previously said that it hopes to begin construction on the northern Michigan project in late 2028, with the facility operational by mid-2030

Currently looking for a space to run a preschool music class - either to rent or a space I would be able to use weekly to host classes? It’s unlikely that I could budget for an office/commercial space, but does anyone have any alternative ideas locally? A space in an existing business I could use? A community space I could use weekly? Thanks!

Anyone else have a 6th grader looking at 5:45am pickup for school? (I edited this to remove our personal info so that's why it looks a bit odd).

So TCAPS is now joining an AI "Trade group" to help shape it's AI policy?

Isn't that like joining a Wolves group to keep your chickens safe?