Cheboygan

Records show that federal officials failed for years to force repairs at a hydro plant connected to the Cheboygan Dam. ‘This was not handled properly,’ a county commissioner says. The county sheriff blames private ownership: ‘There’s only so much we can do.’

A bridge near Traverse City collapsed, a dam in Alcona County failed, roadways across many parts of northern Michigan washed away and some people traversed their neighborhoods in kayaks as heavy rains and spring snowmelt raised rivers, lakes and creeks across the region.

Federal officials have repeatedly told the owner of a nonfunctioning hydro plant connected to the dam to bring it back online, but the company has not done so. Now, state officials are scrambling to restart the plant in hopes of staving off dam failure.

Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have stationed five pumps near the dam to try and divert water as more rain and melting snow are projected in the forecast.

Water is now 18 inches from reaching the top, according to the Michigan State Police. If they reach 12 inches, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says it will begin executing an emergency plan that will likely involved evacuations.

The DNR said it was "working with local officials to manage the situation." In addition, they say plans are in place if high water conditions continue.

Cheboygan resident Louis Vallance has been pushing county officials across northern Michigan to support his proposal for a passenger train system. He hopes to persuade the state of Michigan to redevelop old railroads, saying it could help boost tourism in the region.

WCMU Public Radio's Tina Sawyer talks with the newest Destination Michigan team member Jamie Mankiewicz from WCMU Public Television about her latest interview.

More than 1,200 Christmas trees will be shipped out of northern Michigan to Chicago this weekend, where they'll be distributed to low-income families.

Buildings in Petoskey and Cheboygan are going to be receiving new life with the help of funds from Michigan's Revitalization and Placemaking Program.