Heartland Trail Tracks - Spring, 2001

The FFMHT is pleased to announce the election of six Board Members for 2001. At the Annual Meeting on February 27 - Wayne Addis, Duane Hansen, Dean Iverson, Carolyn Kane, Don Stearns and Karen Stearns were re-elected for two year terms. Officers for 2001 were then elected: President, Franz Mogdis; Vice President, John Herson; Secretary, Carolyn Kane; Treasurer, Karen Stearns.

Carol Smith from LS Engineering in Greenville gave FFMHT members details of the paving schedule for this summer. Because of the bridge construction and setting at Dickerson Creek, actual paving will not begin before late summer. This is to protect the trail surface from heavy equipment used for the bridge. All work, including signs, will be completed by October, 2001 - a bit later than we had hoped! However, the good news is that the trail will extend north of McBride as far as Coral Road, adding another one-half mile of pavement.

Remember the FFMHT Banquet. September 15th in Edmore at the Curtis Building. Please consider donating an article for the Silent Auction! (Springsteens at 989-291-3248) and if you have suggestions for Raffle Prizes, don't hesitate to let a Board Member know.

Your donations are vital to the FFMHT and its work to maintain and develop the trail! Your membership fees and any other donations that you give are tax deductible AND they generate funds to pay for weed spray (an ongoing battle!), new signs and posts, snowmobile barriers to protect the pavement, paint for repairs and maintenance, and costs for mailings and updates to members. Every time you use the trail, you will see your money at work.

There are still some sections of the Trail waiting to be adopted, but 17 sections have found groups to oversee them. If you are interested, or know of a group in your school, church, or business, who would be interested in adopting a section, please contact Bob Painter at 989-352-6351.

FFMHT T-Shirts and Pins are available to promote our trail. These attractive shirts come in two styles: White with the red heart, black RR tracks and cyclist; and Heather Gray with the FFMHT diamond logo in green. The handsome gold pins are an exact replica of the FFMHT logo and are about 1" X 1". Shirts and pins are $15 each and make great gifts! Contact Carolyn Kane at 989-427-5555 to order.

The Herman Hoffer ride is coming to Gratiot County, September 28th - 30th! If you would be interested in a 1 day, 2 day or 3 day ride in and around Gratiot County, please contact Nellie Simmons at 989-875-4761 for details.

FFHMT - Gratiot News
Our first trail workday will be held on Saturday, May 5th from 9:00 to 12:00 am. (come for some or all of the time). We will meet at the grain elevator in Elwell at 9:00 and then we'll be working on different trail sections. Our main purpose for this work day is to install pipe barriers at all of the mile intersections - most of the vertical posts were installed in the fall, but there will also be a few more of these to dig and concrete in. If you have a post hole digger, bring it along. See you on the Trail!

The FFMHT meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at Montcalm Community College, Instruction West, Room 207. Meetings begin at 7:00 pm

The FFMHT Gratiot meets on the 1st Monday of the month at the Alma College Physical Education Building, Robyn Anderson's office. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. You are always invited to attend these meetings.

Spring Migration Bird Walk - Satuday, May 12th, 8:00 am
Come and observe the wonders of sping migration in Central Michigan and get a chance to experience first hand one of the many benefits of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail in Gratiot County. On this Saturday morning, there will be a guided bird walk along the trail segment starting at Lumberjack Road in Riverdale, east to Osborn Road and back. We will meet in Riverdale at the trailhead on the east side of Lumberjack Road at 8:00 am and will be out two or three hours. This segment of the trail will take us through riparian habitat along the Pine River, wooded areas, including a white cedar swamp, and upland old fields. Wear sturdy shoes and bring binoculars, if you have them. Bug repellent may be necessary too. We may be able to provide a few pair of binoculars for those without. Our guide will have a spotting scope for any cooperative subjects that might be seen. A field guide isn't necessary, as our guide should (we hope!) be able to identify everything we are likely to see, but feel free to bring one if you have one. Cancellation will only be in the event of heavy rain (light rain doesn't discourage the birds!) Hope to see you there.