Non-football related stuff that really makes your day

[Tony G]

That's great MM

I found out today that I have to spend a week in training in early December. Training location? Palm Beach. Suck it, Indiana winter! :-)

That's a very "at risk" training assignment Kay!
While the rest of the hoosiers are back home getting used to winter, you will enjoy 7 days in the possibly warm Florida sun. Then when you come back from your "training" you run smack into the full force of winter with no preperation at all!
Such a shock to the system can set up a deep crash and lead to a soul sucking depression far easier than if you had gotten used to winter!
Of course since it would be "for your good" I'm sure any of the single forumites (without family depending on them) would be willing to step in to your place, undergo the training and give you a report out afterwards, before they undergo the hazaradous wintershock.

[-Deborah-]

hehe @ the sarcasm font

[Tony G]

If only I could make it my default font....

[Coop]

you just invited Karma, Kay.

it's already snow showering here...you say suck it....weather gods gonna say snow what?

[Sharkbait]

Re: Cat.

Changes his facebook profile picture on October 15th. I have his number,Mark, 705 area code, will try to call tomorrow.

[Panoptes]

Re: Cat.

Changes his facebook profile picture on October 15th. I have his number,Mark, 705 area code, will try to call tomorrow.

How you holding up brother? Your daughter and grand kids staying safe?

[LionsFanInJapan]

Thanks Shark.

[bimmer84]

'Glad they got things worked out. I rode on the Badger as well as the City of Midland, Spartan, and Pere Marquette as a kid. Some of those winter crossings were scary. Especially in the old Pere Marquette.

October 26, 2013 at 1:00 am
It's full steam ahead for SS Badger

Ludington and Manitowac relieved after ferry deal OK'd

Jim Lynch
The Detroit News

SS Badger Capt. Jeff Curtis gets set to board the ferry in May. The EPA expects the vessel to have a coal ash capture system in place by 2015. (Jeff Kiessel / AP)

A collective sigh of relief could be heard on both sides of Lake Michigan earlier this month when a federal judge cleared the way for the SS Badger to continue its car ferry operation beyond next season.

After nearly 60 years of hauling families and their cars across the lake during the summer months, the Badger?s run appeared last year to be ending. Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had targeted the operation for its production of coal ash ? material that is dumped into the water during each crossing.

For Ludington on the Michigan side and Manitowac on the Wisconsin side, the stakes were high. The economies of both communities are bolstered each year by an influx of tourist dollars that are directly attributable to the Badger ? an estimated $7 million in Wisconsin and an estimated 700 jobs in the Ludington area.

But on Oct. 10, U.S. District Judge Janet Neff approved a consent agreement between Lake Michigan Carferry and the EPA that would allow the company to continue operating while it makes technological changes to the Badger during the next year. The modifications would allow the Badger to capture coal ash generated during a crossing instead of pumping it into Lake Michigan.

It?s welcome news for people like Tom Holly, owner of the Jamesport Brewing Company, which sits three blocks north of the Badger?s dock in Ludington.

?We know that the Badger has an impact on our business here,? he said. ?It?s a seasonal impact, but we estimate between 15 and 20 percent of our business comes from the Badger during the summer months.?

Holly described the Badger as a ?big part? of the Ludington community and an ?icon.? Across Lake Michigan, it?s more than that.

A year ago, with the Badger facing an uncertain future, officials with the Manitowac County Chamber of Commerce were bracing for the worst. The ferry service contributes an estimated $7 million a year to the region?s economy.

?There are a cross section of businesses that are impacted ? the downtown businesses, restaurants and hotels,? said Karen Szyman, the chamber?s executive director. ?In addition, we have a number of different companies that transport things via the ferry.?

As an example, she pointed to Broadwind Energy, which transports massive wind turbine pieces across the lake on the ferry. This year, Lake Michigan Carferry extended its season a few weeks to allow the company to ship more parts.

Last year?s concerns have given way to a new sense of optimism. The approved consent agreement requires the Badger?s operators to gradually reduce the amount of coal ash released during the 2014 sailing season and to have a capture system on board by the start of the 2015 season.

Back in 2008, Lake Michigan Carferry?s outlook for such a system was pessimistic. In a letter to the EPA, a company consultant wrote: ?... there currently exists no available off-the-shelf plan, system, technology or process that would allow the vessel to operate but contain its ash.?

Earlier this month, company officials greeted the consent agreement with much more optimism.

?(LMC) has also been proactive working toward eliminating the ash discharge during the Consent Decree review process by starting the engineering and design work necessary for the installation of a sophisticated ash retention system ? a technology never before implemented on a steam ship,? the company said in a press release.

This week, a company spokesperson said two contractors are tackling the dual issues of creating a combustion system and a retention system for the ship, which was built in 1952.

?LMC?s main focus at this time is on the combustion system,? said Terri Brown, the company?s director of marketing and media relations, in a response to questions. ?In the next couple of weeks we hope to be purchasing components for the combustion controls. The new combustion system will allow the ship to burn less coal and generate less ash.?

Brown said the potential costs of the upgrades are ?not available at this time.?

For John Henderson, however, the costs will undoubtedly be worth it. Last year, Ludington?s mayor estimated a total of 700 jobs in the region ? 200 directly and 500 indirectly ? were affected by the Badger?s operation. Had the car ferry stopped operating, he anticipated the local unemployment rate jumping by 5 percentage points.

?We would have survived ? that?s not in doubt ? and you have to roll with the punches ... ,? he said. ?But we?re very excited to have the ferry and have Ludington by the home port for it.?

jlynch@detroitnews.com
(313) 222-2034



From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz2ipy84eZ7

[-Deborah-]

Glad they figured something out. I had just moved to Ludington when they resumed carferry service in the early 90s and it was a huge boon to the economy. Would have hated to see the aftermath of it being shut down.

[bimmer84]

So true. 700 jobs to town of 8,000 would have hurt. Funny, I just looked up the population of Cadillac and it is still around 10,000. That is what it was in the 60's. I guess it is somehow averaging out over the years.

[edindetroit]

That's great MM

I found out today that I have to spend a week in training in early December. Training location? Palm Beach. Suck it, Indiana winter! :-)

I was down in NC helping out in my company's move back in early 2011 when this area got hit by a blizzard. Down there it was 78? and sunny.

[Malto Marko]

Great news.

To shut it down would have been a classic case of treehuggers not understanding the dynamics of economics.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Great news.

To shut it down would have been a classic case of treehuggers not understanding the dynamics of economics.

Or maybe the "treehuggers" thought $7million to Manitowac County wasn't worth polluting Lake Michigan for everyone else in the world.

There are smart people that understand the issues on both sides of most things, using terms like "treehuggers" and insinuating they are somehow less intelligent than you, is really dismissive...

[bimmer84]

Here we go again.

[Islair]

Oh yea.....let me guess what side of the argument the guy with the squirrel avatar is going to be on....




Just kidding Bim, couldnt resist.